BNP for army deployment week ahead of polls

BNP has demanded army deployment at least a week ahead of the city corporations polls in Dhaka and Chittagong, billed for April 28, to ensure free and fair polls saying it still has confidence on army in terms of neutrality, reports UNB.
"Army should be deployed at least seven days prior to elections because confidence is still there in army regarding neutrality," said BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah while taking part in 111th edition of the BBC Songlap held in the city on Saturday.
Shipping Minister M Shajahan Khan, Bang-ladesh Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain and Dhaka University Prof Dr Zinat Huda Wahid also took part in the discussion as panelists.
The BNP leader said the Election Commission will have to make it sure that each candidate can seek vote and reach the electorate's door.
Hannan Shah also said it will have to make sure that all can get support from administration so that no terror activities can take place during the elections.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the current pre-polls environment, the BNP leader said, "Forget about level-playing field, many candidates are not able to stay at their respective home due to law enforcers' disturbance."
He, however, said there is a scope for BNP to boycott the corporation polls and mentioned that most of the candidates, won the past elections, are now in jail.
Zinat Huda said there is no need to go for election if the issue of level-playing field comes before the polls. "Obviously, BNP can demand that…but if hartals continue days after days, hampers examinations, there is no meaning of demanding a level-playing field."