Bangladesh to deploy army for local poll in new city near Dhaka

Oct 16, 2011, 11:44 GMT

Dhaka - Bangladesh army troops are to be deployed to keep order during local elections in the city of Naraynaganj, near Dhaka, at the end of the month, an election commission official said on Sunday.

Responding to demands from two mayoral candidates, the Election Commission said polling for the newly promulgated city corporation would be monitored by troops.

A total of 312 candidates, including six for the mayoral post, are campaigning. Some 400,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots on October 30 for representatives on the local council.

The election commission official, who declined to be named, said members of the armed forces would be on hand to protect against any incidents before, during or after the polls, alongside the other law enforcement agencies.

'We have sent a letter to the armed forces division asking for troops to be deployed during the polls,' he said.

Earlier, Selina Hayat Ivy, one of the two candidates from the ruling Awami League, and Taimur Alam Khandaker, backed by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, demanded troops be deployed to ensure peaceful voting.