Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Saturday said there is no necessity to deploy army for the upcoming Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election as the law and order situation is now better there.

“The law and order situation is now better. The situation will improve further. So, there’s no need for army employment,” the CEC told reporters after the Election Commission’s meeting with high-ups of law enforcement agencies at the National Economic Council auditorium in the city.

He said the Election Commission has directed the law enforcement agencies to recover illegal arms and arrest criminals in Narayanganj. “The drive (against illegal arms and criminals) is now going on. We’ve asked them to make their drives more visible ahead of NCC polls,” he added.

Chaired by the CEC, the meeting was attended by top officials from Police, RAB, BGB, Ansar, Coastguard, the Armed Force Division, intelligence agencies and the Home Ministry and put forward suggestions over the security measures for the elections of NCC and 61 district councils.

Four election commissioners, the EC Secretary, returning officers of the elections and the Deputy Commissioner concerned also attended the meeting.

Seven mayoral candidates, including Awami League nominated Dr Salina Hayat Ivy and BNP nominated Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Khan are running in the 2nd NCC election slated for December 22.

BNP mayoral candidate Shakhawat is demanding army deployment, while Ivy leaves it to the Election Commission.