Fair polls can’t be held without army deployment: Shujan

Urging the Election Commission (EC) to remain alert and watchful ahead of the next general election, Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), a civil society platform, today said that the army deployment is imperative in holding the next parliamentary election in a free, fair and credible manner.

"No election can be held in a free, fair and transparent manner without deployment of army in the present context," M Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, chief of the Shujan, said in a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on April 8, said he personally believes that the army should be deployed in the upcoming parliamentary polls, but added that the decision rested with the Election Commission.

Rejecting the CEC's observation, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the EC has no jurisdiction to deploy army in the parliamentary election rather, the government will take steps in this regard realising the necessity.

Pointing to the Awami League leader's remarks, Hafiz, also a former adviser to a caretaker government, said, "It’s a matter of sorrow as the Election Commission didn’t raise its voice against such statement."

Claiming that arranging election in a credible manner is the commission's moral responsibility, Hazif said, "The Election Commission is now sleeping. It will have to wake up. We hope that it would do whatever necessary in arranging the next general election in a transparent manner," he said.

Taking part in the programme, M Sakhawat Hossain, former election commissioner, said the next general election cannot be held in a congenial atmosphere without army deployment.

"I cannot say whether the local body election will be held in free and fair manner. But I can say the national polls will not be fair except army deployment."

Pointing to the CEC's believe regarding army deployment, he said the Election Commission and the opposition are not in a face-to-face position over the issue.

During BNP-Jamaat tenure in 2003, the then chief election commissioner MA Saeed wanted to deploy army in the local government elections but he was barred by the government, Sakhawat said referring to the point of view of Awami League leader Obaidul Quader.