DHAKA: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said country’s ongoing situation ahead of municipal election does not deserve army deployment.

He made the comment while briefing the media on Saturday (December 19) after the meeting of Election Commission (EC) with law enforcement agencies to fix next course of action to maintain the country’s law and order situation during municipal election.

The meeting got underway at Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) Foundation auditorium in city at 11:00am with CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad in the chair.

The CEC said the law and order situation in municipal areas is now under control. There is no need to concern about law and order deterioration.

Citing the returning officers he said, ‘Situation has not created to deploy army personnel. The situation is better as Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) - Border Gourd Bangladesh (BGB) and police have remained vigilant in the polling areas’.

EC secretary, home ministry secretary, IGP, RAB, BGB, Ansar-VDP, Coast Guard, DGs of detective agencies, armed forces principal staff officers and returning officers attended the meeting.

However, voters will cast their votes in 3,585 polling centers in the municipal elections.

According to meeting sources, so far 20 law enforcers will be deployed at each polling center. Police, Ansar-VDP and APBN will be deployed at poll centers. RAB, BGB, police coast guard will remain ready as striking force and mobile team in poll areas.

More than 70,000 law enforcers will be deployed in the election to avert any untoward situation.

BDST: 1517 HRS, DEC 19, 2015
RS/RR/SMS

** EC-law enforcers meeting underway