If police and RAB fail, army will come in to control the situation

Dhaka:

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury has said that if the police, RAB and BGB (Border Guard of Bangladesh) fail to control the voting environment, the armed forces will work to control the situation.

He said that the armed forces will not act as a striking force in this election, but will perform their duties according to sections 127 to 132 of the CrPC. If the police, RAB and BGB fail to control the election environment, then the armed forces will work to control the situation.

He made these remarks during a briefing at the control room of the Election Building on Thursday (December 27) afternoon. Brigadier General Saidul Islam, DG of the National Identity Card Division (NID), was also present at the time.

Later, Major Raju Ahmed showed reporters how law enforcement forces have been deployed through a map.

Regarding the 22 Jamaat candidates with the paddy sheaf symbol in the elections, Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury said, "We have to obey the court order. We will act according to the order that comes at the last minute. We are also prepared accordingly."

‘"Elections for 300 seats in one day are a big challenge. I don't think there is a tense situation in the election. Political pressure and tension may prevail."’

Election Commissioner Shahadat said that 300 constituencies will be directly monitored from the control room set up at the EC for the elections. Action will be taken from now on if any incident occurs at any center.

Regarding the electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said, "EVMs have already reached 6 constituencies. Mock voting is underway now. Overall, our preparations are good. More than 5 lakh law enforcement personnel have been deployed for the entire election."

Regarding the attacks, he said, "No truth has been found in many of the allegations. The ones that have been found will be resolved from the constituency. Not from the EC. 122 Electoral Inquiry Committees have been formed at the district level in these matters. They will resolve these problems."