EC decides today whether to deploy army

The Election Commission will decide today whether it will deploy army to ensure a free and fair voting in the April 28 election to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations.

Meanwhile, most mayor candidates outside the Awami League camp have demanded deployment of army, saying the people do not have trust in the regular law enforcement agencies.

BNP-blessed contenders Tabith Awal and Mirza Abbas, Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh-backed Mahi B Chowdhury, Jatiya Party affiliated Saifuddin Ahmed Milon, former AL lawmaker Golam Mawla Rony and at least six other mayoral aspirants are in favour of army deployment but AL-backed aspirants Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon said they did not see the necessity of it.

The officials of the EC, home ministry, law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and Armed Forces Division meet at 11:00am today to decide the matter.