The Election Commission has sought explanation from the Armed Forces Division asking why the government did not deploy the army during the Narayanganj City Corporation polls, despite a requisition.
The chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, on Friday said, ‘We have sent a letter officially in this regard. Let’s see what they have to say.’
The EC sent the letter to the division in the late hours on Thursday.
He said there was a ‘gap’ between the EC and the government with regard to the army deployment.
The commission in a letter to the Armed Forces Division on October 16 sought four companies of troops for the first ballot of the newly-formed Narayanganj City Corporation, but received no response.
The government’s decision to not deploy the army during the election disappointed several quarters. Rebel Awami League candidate Selina Hayat Ivy who eventually won the vote with a landslide slammed the EC.
BNP-backed Taimur Alam Khandaker pulled out from the election at the last minute on orders of his party to protest against the non-deployment of the army.
The BNP also demanded the resignation of the CEC over the matter.
Forced to announce that there would be no army deployment for the October 30 vote a frustrated Huda had said even though it was the government’s constitutional obligation to do so, it did not met the EC’s demand.
However, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Thursday claimed that ‘there had been no violation to the constitution’ because the army was not deployed.
Hasina stated that the army was under the command of the government head [prime minister], who is also the defence ministry chief. ‘Only the government head can decide whether the army will leave the barrack or not.’
After the voting of the NCC polls ended, CEC Huda had said the commission would sit with the government over the issue.
Source: newagebd.com/newspaper1
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