Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain today called upon the army personnel to stand beside the countrymen ahead of the December 30 national election.
“We are proud of our army personnel as they play significant roles with pride in the peacekeeping mission. This moment, we hope they would stand beside the countrymen to hold the election in a free, fair and participatory manner,” Kamal also Gono Forum president said.
While addressing a press conference at the Oikyafront’s central office in Paltan area of Dhaka this evening, Kamal expressed his disappointment over the prevailing law and order situation ahead of the upcoming general election.
“Over 7000 leaders and activists of the Oikyafront have so far been arrested after the announcement of the polls schedule,” he said.
Claiming that the country’s overall law and order situation massively deteriorated after the formal beginning of the election campaign, Kamal said the situation has not yet been changed despite deployment of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel.
“The law and order situation is deteriorating daily due to the overenthusiastic acts of policemen,” Kamal said vowing that they would stay in the election until its end whatever adverse situation is created.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Nagoric Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, among others, were present at the press conference.
Army personnel start election duties today to help ensure a peaceful atmosphere and maintain law and order across the country for the December 30 polls.
The troops, who will perform the duties till January 2 alongside law enforcers, will “extend all-out support” to the Election Commission for the holding of a free and fair election.
Members of the army have already been deployed in 389 upazilas and navy personnel in 18 coastal upazilas, according to a press release of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
BGB personnel, who have been deployed since December 18, will carry out duties in 87 bordering upazilas, it mentioned.
Our correspondents from Natore, Pabna, Pirojpur and Barishal yesterday reported that army men already started setting up camps in the four districts.
Members of the armed forces will be stationed at different “nodal points” and convenient places in every district, upazila and metropolitan area, according to a home ministry circular issued on December 19.
Besides, members of the Rapid Action Battalion and the Armed Police Battalion will be deployed as mobile and striking forces from December 26 to January 2.
