DHAKA: Election Commissioner Mohammad Shahnewaz commented that the army will stay in cantonments, but they will rush to spot if it is required.

He made the statement to the media at his office on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the commissioner declared the deployment of army four days before the city polls.

But on Wednesday he remarked that the army will stay in cantonments.

On the issue, Shahnewaz said that no change has been made in the decision of army deployment.

Clarifying the issue, he said that the army will work as a ‘striking force’. Law enforcers, including Ansar, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), will patrol as well as stay in the election areas while army personnel will move on emergency.

The commissioner opined that the EC has deployed enough law enforcers to thwart any untoward situation regarding the polls.

According to him, as the cantonments are located near Dhaka and Chittagong election areas, the army will stay in the cantonments but they will move following the calls of returning officers.

If situation demands, then army will be on patrols, he added.

BDST: 2030 HRS, APR 23, 2015
RR/SMS