Army to work as strike force in next polls

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Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain yesterday said army will work as strike force with the law enforcement agencies during next elections.

“The Election Commission can bestow the magistracy power upon anyone who remains out of the law enforcement agencies,” he told reporters while replying to a question at the Election Commission Secretariat.

Sakhawat said magistracy means the “power of instant judgment,” which the law enforcement agencies are not empowered to exercise.

He said army remained a part of all big elections in the past and performed as the strike force.

The election commissioner said as the elections to more than 300 upazilas will be held in October, it will not be possible to maintain law and order merely with Rab, police and Ansars.

Asked whether army would be deployed during the upcoming upazila elections, he said: “If we deem it necessary after assessing the situation, army may be deployed during these elections.”

He, however, said army will work under the command of the Election Commission and they will not guard the polling centres.

Asked about the voters’ fear for army’s presence during elections, Sakhawat said army always comes out at times of the country’s need. They work during storm and flood and distribute the VGF cards among the people.

“Political parties did not raise any objection (about army deployment) during their dialogues with the commission.”

Replying to a query, he said the Election Commission has already requested the government for changes in the administration within August. “If necessary, we’ll again request the government.”

On former prime minister Khaleda Zia, he said the commission requested the authorities concerned to inform her about the voter registration and she {Khaleda) might become voter. “The process of becoming voter is a legal matter.”

When his attention was drawn to some newspaper reports that upazila elections might be held on political lines, the election commissioner said the local government ministry will deal with the issue.

“I think the political parties should not get involved with the upazila elections, as during dialogues with the commission they said local government elections should be non-partisan,” he said.

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