President

Photo: Collected/PMO

Election: President gives 'in principle' approval to EC request for army deployment

Election Commission Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam shared this information with the journalists after the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)'s meeting with President Md. Shahabuddin on Sunday (December 17).

He told reporters that CEC Kazi Habibul Awal met the President at Bangabhaban on Sunday morning. At this time, the CEC requested about the deployment of army in the polling ground. The President agreed to this in the meeting.

Chief Election Commissioner along with EC Secretary entered Bangabhaban at 10:45 am. The meeting started at 11 am. After half an hour, Md. Jahangir briefed the journalists outside Bangabhaban.

After the meeting, the EC Secretary said, "According to Article 120 of the Constitution, the Commission has requested the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to His Excellency the President to deploy military forces to assist the civil administration under 'In Aid to Civil Power' in the 12th National Assembly Elections. His Excellency the President has heard the matter. He assured that he will talk to the armed forces and give a decision very soon. He has agreed 'in-principle' to deploy military forces.”

"The President will now discuss with the Department of Armed Forces and give his consent formally. After that, circulars will be issued to determine the scope of work and when to be deployed. We will discuss it with the Armed Forces Department and send a separate letter. In light of that there is time, when and how will be determined. It will be finalized by the Election Commission through correspondence with the Armed Forces Department,” the EC Secretary added.

Earlier on December 11, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Waqar-uz-Zaman said, “The EC needs to deploy troops from December 29 to January 10 (13 days). Last time, about 35,000 troops were deployed. This time, if more is needed, it will be deployed that way. All preparations are in place.”