Govt to decide on army deployment considering reality: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that the government will take step realising reality if the Election Commission wants to deploy army in the upcoming general election.

"The deployment of army is not under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. Rather, the government will take step realising reality if the commission wants to do so," Quader said while addressing a programme at the Institution of Engineers' Bangladesh in Dhaka this afternoon.

He said that army will be under the Ministry of Defence while the law enforcement agencies will be under the election commission during the election.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said the Election Commission can at least request the government for army deployment and then the government will act according to the necessity observing overall situation.

Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said the army should be deployed in the parliamentary elections.

"It’s my personal opinion that the army should be deployed in the national elections. However, the election commission will take the final decision in this regard," Nurul Huda said.

Apart from this, the principal opposition BNP has been demanding deployment of army in the Khulna and Gazipur city corporation election scheduled for May 15.

Referring to the BNP's demand, Quader said everything in this regard is stated in the country's charter and no one can go against it.

"Army will play a role during the election as striking force and the decision on giving magistracy power to them will be taken based on the circumstances," Quader said.

About electoral campaign of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Quader said, elected representatives take part in the election campaign across the world then why the ruling MPs and prime minister will not be allowed to take part in the election campaign.

"I will sit with the Election Commission to talk over the issue," Quader said.