Arafat Hasan of DOT
BNP has expressed acceptance over the Election Commission’s decision to deploy army in the country starting from today for the upcoming 11th Parliamentary Election on December 30.
“We welcome the decision to deploy army during the 11th Jatiya Sangsad polls. We sincerely believe that the deployment of army will help create a fair and neutral environment for the election which so far has not been in effect,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam said in a press statement yesterday, reports The Daily Star.
Mentioning that Bangladesh Army has always been dedicated to serving the nation and its people, Fakhrul said the army won’t let its image be tarnished by working in a partisan way.
“We hope every proud member of the Bangladesh Army would work for the sake of the countrymen in an effective way, and not in favor of any individual or any particular group.”
“We strongly urge the Bangladesh Army to ensure equal scopes for all political parties and candidates in the election,” Fakhrul added.
Earlier on December 18, a total of 1,016 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces were deployed across Bangladesh to control the law and order situation.
Election Commissioner Rafiqul Islam said the paramilitary force has been deployed to remove the fear of all including the political parties.
On November 15, the EC secretary said that army and BGB will be deployed five to 10 days before election.
Bangladesh’s major opposition parties, including BNP and its alliance Jatiya Oikyafront, have long been demanding army deployment for free and fair elections, citing fear of vote rigging by the ruling party and that the election is going to take place under the partisan administration of Sheikh Hasina.
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