Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has categorically said that his party is against the army deployment in the 12th parliamentary election scheduled for January 7.
“We are against making our army controversial in all matters,” Quader said this while addressing a press conference at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s political office in Dhanmondi area of Dhaka on Tuesday.
“The army may be deployed as a strategic force. We prefer not to comment further on the matter,” Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said.
The Election Commission (EC) is likely to deploy the Bangladesh Army nationwide on 29 December to tighten security and keep law and order under control ahead of the national election.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Wakar-uz-Zaman, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division in a media briefing on Monday said, “The election commission wants our (armed forces) deployment to hold a free and fair election in a healthy atmosphere.”
“The army will be deployed across the country “in aid of civil power” for 13 days from December 29 and “we will extend our support to the commission the way it wants,” he said.
The announcement came after Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other commissioners held a meeting with concerned civil and military officials at the commission office.
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