The Election Commission has a plan to deploy army in those polling stations where Electric Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the 11th national election.
“The EC is planning to deploy army in EVM voting contres. If the Commission feels army’s necessity, it’ll talk to the army and deploy them after giving them enough training,” EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Saturday.
Preferring anonymity, an EC official said the army will be in overall control of the polling stations where the EVMs to be used instead of ballot boxes.The EC Secretary said a political alliance that is intended to contest the election with a single electoral symbol will have to inform the Election Commission their symbol by Sunday.
“Otherwise, no party can take part in the election as partner of alliance (officially). Each party will have to contest the polls with its respective electoral symbol,” Helaluddin said.As per the law, no election campaign is allowed till allocation of polls symbol (Nov 30), he said.
Replying to a question over Oikyafront’s Rajshahi rally, the EC said they took permission for the rally before the announcement of the election schedule. “So, EC permitted them verbally,” he added.In reply to another query on BNP’s demand for deferment of the election schedule, the Secretary said there is no possibility of delaying it.
If all parties reach a consensus over it, then EC will take a decision, he said.Replying to another question, the EC secretary said he is not aware about Mohammadpur political clash that left two boys killed in the morning.
Helaluddin said the CEC has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take measures for preventing election campaign until (Nov 30) election symbols are allocated. Law enforcement agencies will take necessary steps in this regard.
source: UNB
