Barisal: Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday said army will be deployed during the upcoming general election but not during the city polls.

‘I think, army will be deployed during the general election.  Army will be present during polls but we’ve no plan to deploy army during city polls,’ he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a training workshop over Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the Circuit House in the city, reports the UNB.

Replying to a query about BNP’s participation in the national election, Nurul Huda said the Election Commission is unable to take any separate initiative for any specific party.

‘We urge all the parties to participate in the polls so that it could  be competitive one,  we hope BNP would participate in the election but have no option to take  any special initiative for any party,’ he said.

 ‘The allegation of vote rigging and massive irregularities will be eliminated after introduction of EVM in all voting centres. To avoid irregularities in the upcoming national election, EVM should be introduced,’ he said.

‘In Khulna city corporation polls, voting in three centres was suspended due to irregularities. We’re also investigating the allegations of irregularities in some other centres,’ he said.

Earlier, Khulna City Corporation elections were held on May 15 where Awami League mayor candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won with a big margin defeating his rival Nazrul Islam Monju of BNP.