Future elections to be held without army: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said army will no longer be needed in holding future elections.
He said, “No elections would be held across the country on a single day.” Elite-force Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will be deployed along with police for maintaining law and order in election.
Dr Shamsul Huda, who has presided over the process of transition from the military-backed interim regime through the last general election, came here to visit the proposed places of server station for electoral database in six upazilas.
He made the remarks while talking to media men at the local circuit house about the deployment of army in ensuing city corporation, pourashava and union parishad elections.
“The Election Commission is contemplating making laws for keeping the next elections free from the influence of ministers, lawmakers and other people of equivalent status,” Dr Huda said.
He mentioned that the EC had sent a letter to the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad requesting him to take steps so that ministers and lawmakers do not use their influence in constituencies in last elections. “The ruling party complied with the request while the opposition ignored,” the CEC regretted.
In reply to a query, he said more reforms would be brought in the electoral laws. But, “we alone don't want to do anything.”
Dr Huda said electoral laws have been reformed after holding talks with 16 political parties earlier and it would also be done in the future by holding talks with political parties.
Referring to irregularities in upazila polls, he said 481 upazila elections were held simultaneously across the country. “Hence, some irregularities might have happened,” said the CEC, adding that departmental investigation was launched wherever allegations came from.
Later, he visited the proposed sites of server station in Sadar, Gosairhat, Damuda, Bhedorganj, Naria and Jazira upazilas.