Dhaka: In the face of a growing demand from different quarters, Election Commission on Tuesday finally decided to deploy army in three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong from 26 to 29 April, aiming to peacefully hold the crucial polls, billed for 28 April.

Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz announced the decision following a meeting at the Election Commission secretariat on Tuesday.

‘Army will be used as both reserve force and striking force. But the number of the army personnel to be deployed during the polls is yet to be fixed. The EC will decide it later,’ he said.

‘Following a meeting with law enforcement agencies and intelligence on 19 April, we came to know that the overall law and order situation is good. Although a favourable situation has been prevailing, we’ve decided to deploy army so that people can cast their votes without fear,’ he added.  

An uncertainty was created over army deployment during the elections to the three city corporations as five election commissioners were split on the issue.

Three commissioners, including Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, were in favour of deployment of the army ahead of the city polls slated for 28 April, while the remaining two commissioners opposed.

Emerging from the EC’s coordination meeting over security arrangements, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday said the Election Commission will decide within a couple of days whether army will be deployed during the city elections.

On 19 April, all representatives from law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies at the meeting told the commission that the army deployment will not be required in the elections to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC).

Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Shushashaner Janya Nagarik (Shujan) and a number of mayoral and councillor candidates, especially BNP-backed ones, had been demanding that army be deployed ahead of the city elections.