Photo: Collected
The Election Commission on Monday (18 December) asked for sending a small team of armed forces in advance to every district in order for their deployment throughout the country for 13 days during the January 7 national election.
The commission sent a letter to the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division in this regard.
The EC has already taken a decision for the deployment of armed forces in the 300 constituencies throughout Bangladesh from December 29, 2023 to January 10, 2024 to assist the civil administration under the provision of "In Aid to Civil Power" aiming to ensure peace-order before, during and after the polling day, said the letter.
A small advance team of armed forces can be sent to each district to collect primary information and data on the communication system, physical infrastructures and electoral environment, conditions of the election area, it said.
The deployed members of the armed forces will assist the civil administration in maintaining the law and order in line with the Code of Criminal Procedure following the recommendations of executive magistrates in the election duty.
The members of the armed forces will remain deployed at nodal points and convenient locations in each district, upazila or metropolitan area. Then the members of armed forces will be deployed in coordination of the returning officers.
Executive magistrates will be deployed with teams of the armed force.
On request of the returning officers or assistance returning officers, they will have to do legal activities and other works as per the reality and requirements.
The commission will issue detailed directives later over the deployment of armed forces, said the letter.
Messenger/Sun Yath
