EC to deploy army

In the face of a growing demand from different quarters, the Election Commission (EC) finally decided on Tuesday to deploy army in three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong from April 26 to 29, aiming to peacefully hold the crucial polls, billed for April 28, report agencies.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz announced the decision following a meeting at the EC secretariat on Tuesday.
"Army will be used as both reserve force and striking force. But the number of the army personnel to be deployed during the polls is yet to be fixed. The EC will decide it later," he said.
"Following a meeting with law enforcement agencies and intelligence on April 19, we came to know that the overall law and order situation is good. Although a favourable situation has been prevailing, we've decided to deploy army so that people can cast their votes without fear," he added.
An uncertainty was created over army deployment during the elections to the three city corporations as five election commissioners were divided on the issue.
Three commissioners, including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, were in favour of deployment of the army ahead of the city polls slated for April 28, while the remaining two commissioners opposed.
Emerging from the EC's coordination meeting over security arrangements, the CEC said on Sunday the EC will decide within a couple of days whether army will be deployed during the city elections. Four years ago, the commission headed by ATM Shamsul Huda had written to Armed Forces Division asking for army deployment in the Narayanganj city polls.