CEC crossed the line, BNP high-ups say
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Syed's insistence on army deployment in the Union Parishad (UP) elections has irked the government, which has ruled it out.
Most ruling BNP policymakers see the CEC's demand unreasonable and believe he has gone beyond the limit. They feel the current law and order does not demand deployment of army for the UP polls. Such a move may instead panic people at the grassroots level.
An influential minister yesterday told The Daily Star that it is physically not possible to deploy army in thousands of polling centres many of which are still do not have proper road communications and accommodation.
"Army was not required in any Union Parishad elections over last 30 years...why are they required in this year's polls? It is even not physically possible to deploy police in all the polling centres across the country," he observed.
"Does the CEC think that troops would be in the villages during the polls that take nearly three months to complete?" he questioned.
The minister added that the army has many other crucial jobs at hand, including undergoing training and doing the winter exercise. Moreover, the troops have a limit to bear with all these time-consuming tasks.
He said the government has ensured adequate law enforcement by the BDR and police. It is also providing other logistics to the Election Commission to ensure a smooth and peaceful voting.
Another senior minister took a swipe at Syed. "How could a long serving top bureaucrat like MA Syed seeks army deployment in the Union Parishad elections? He held important government positions for long and is still in a constitutional office. His demand is ridiculous...," the minister said.
Government policymakers said the army is usually deployed in general elections as it is a one day affair.
Sources said the policymakers yesterday again discussed the CEC's demand and noted that the CEC should have thought about the viability and consequence of such a deployment.
Political Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Harris Chowdhury said it would not be wise to deploy army because people do not expect army to get involved in the polls to the lowest tier of the local government now that the law and order is back to normal.
He said the government has been extending all logistic supports to the EC and will provide adequate supports.
"There is no example of deployment of army in any Union Parishad elections since the British regime," he added.
Asked whether the government is violating the constitution by turning down the CEC's plea, he said his claim is unfounded. "Although I am not a constitution expert, I can say that his constitutional interpretation is not correct. Rather his comments are misinterpretation of the constitution. It is not correct that the government can support the Election Commission only by providing army."
Harris Chowdhury said the current law and order is far better than anytime before and it is not at all required to deploy army in the upcoming UP polls. Deployment of army in the UP polls may cause alarm among the people.
Meanwhile, sources at the home ministry said that all law-enforcement agencies have been ordered to get ready for election duty. Besides, civil administration at district and upazila levels has also been asked to extend all possible support to the EC for holding a peaceful, fair election.
They said the CEC has already been conveyed the message that government would provide all logistical support to the EC, except army deployment. If necessary, a high-profile delegation would formally meet the CEC.
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