Deployment of army from Dec 26, for 15 days

The Army will remain deployed as the strike force for 15 days from Thursday to ensure peaceful conduct of January 5 polls in 146 out of 300 parliamentary constituencies.
As for the rest 154 constituencies, the deployment would not be needed as the candidates there have already won unopposed.
"An army camp will be set up in every district. The army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will act as strike forces accompanied by magistrates," said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday emerging from a meeting that finalised the date for army deployment.
Senior officials from law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting held at the National Economic Council auditorium.
Election Commissioner Shah Newaz told The Daily Star that five districts would not need army deployment, as all candidates there have already won uncontested.
The opposition alliance, which has been enforcing countrywide blockades since the announcement of the election schedule on November 25, has threatened to beef up its agitation to resist the polls. More than 120 people have been killed during this period.
The EC may face trouble transporting electoral material due to the blockade programme. Sources in yesterday's meeting said the EC officials and law enforcement agencies had unanimously agreed to transport those to polling centres under tight security.
A top level official of an enforcement agency suggested that the minority communities be given adequate security, as they might come under attacks ahead of the elections, said the sources.
Meanwhile, The CEC yesterday did not say anything about the number of troops to be deployed for the election.
"We have given a framework. The final figure will be determined on the basis of local law enforcement requirements and intelligence agency reports," he told reporters.
The number of personnel from different enforcement agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) to be deployed will be determined by the home ministry soon, he added.
The army has been deployed during polls since the country's first parliamentary election held in 1973. Since 2001 elections, the troops had been empowered with the sweeping authority to arrest anybody for violation of electoral laws within 400 yards of the polling stations.
The AL-led government in 2009 scrapped this provision. So, they will perform their duties in this election under magistrates.
CEC Rakibuddin said the EC has already kept the public administration affairs minister informed about the necessary number of executive magistrates.
The army was deployed for 12 days in 2008 polls, and 15 days in 2001.
The CEC, however, said the period of the army deployment might differ from place to place depending on the situation.
"Law and order across the country is improving," the CEC quoted superintendents of police present saying at the meeting.
He said the drive to recover illegal arms would be sped up. Officials of law enforcement agencies asserted that the situation would improve more.
Another meeting was later held among EC officials and returning officers on the voter turnout and how to increase it.