No plan yet to deploy army in DCC polls

The Election Commission has no plans yet to deploy the army in the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) polls, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad at a meeting in the port city, yesterday.
"It is too early to be concerned with taking such steps as the situation seems okay at present" the new CEC said adding, necessary measures would be taken if required.
The CEC was replying to the queries of journalists after a view-exchange meeting with the regional officials of the EC at the Chittagong Circuit House.
“We will deploy law enforcers at the poll centres so that voters can cast votes smoothly without facing any hassle," he said.
Regarding army deployment in the DCC polls, the CEC said, “It is not possible to forecast the situation right now".
Earlier, elections were held without any violence or disorder in various districts in the country with the help of law enforcers, he said.
“However, in case of large-scale elections we are yet to achieve peaceful elections like those held in developed countries,” he observed.
The meeting titled "Task of Updating Voter List" was organised by Chittagong Regional Election Office with Divisional Commissioner Sirajul Haque Khan in the chair.
Addressing the election officials in the meeting, the CEC said proper enrolment of voters is a major prerequisite for free and fair elections.
He said updating the voter list which began last month should be complete by December this year, following which a fresh list would be made by January 2013.
"The voter list would be updated round the year at the upazila level after setting up the server stations in each upazila", he said.
Deputy Commissioner Foyez Ahmad, Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abul Kashem, Chittagong Range Deputy Inspector General, Nowsher Ali and Superintendent of Police ZA Morshed were present among others at the meeting.