Army to be deployed in polls, reiterates Mahbub
UNB
Dhaka: Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder on Tuesday reiterated that the army will be deployed in the next general election.
"I talked to other commissioners and their realisation is that the army should be deployed in the election. I also personally think that there should be army to meet public expectations," he told reporters at his office in the city's Nirbachan Bhaban.
Mahbub Talukder said time will say how and in which format army will be deployed in the polls.
Apparently noting that the army can be deployed within the existing legal framework, he said according to the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, a commissioned army officer may bring anyone under laws during any trouble.
He, however, said the decision is yet to be taken in a commission's meeting over the army deployment.
The Election Commissioner also said no 'identified' Jamaat man will be allowed to contest the next parliamentary elections even as an independent candidate. "We won't allow identified persons of Jamaat-e-Islami in the election... If they want to contest the election as independent candidates, the Commission will take decision assessing them individually," he said.
He, however, did not explain whether any legal reforms will be needed to keep the Jamaat men out of the election race.
Noting that they will sincerely try to arrange a fair election, he said, "We're accountable to the people for holding an election which will be free, fair and neutral and participatory and there will be question over it."
About the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the election commissioner said it will not be possible to hold the next national election fully based on EVMs due to time constraints. "And Most of the old EVMs have already lost their workability. However, we'll go for EVMs in the city corporation election on a trial basis."
About registration of new political parties, Mahbub Talukder said the Commission will provide registration to those parties which will fulfill the pre-conditions. "We'll in no way show laxity over fulfillment of the pre-conditions."