DHAKA: Election Commissioner M Shahnewaz on Monday categorically said army would be deployed in the next general elections to maintain law-and-order situation.

The election commissioner came up with the disclosure while talking to journalists at his Election Commission Secretariat office at Sher-e-Banglanagar of the city in the noon.

He said, “We expect that there will be a consensus among the registered political parties and they will go for election.”

Shahnewaz added: “We have a constitutional obligation to hold the general elections within the stipulated time.”

Regarding the law-and-order situation of the country, he said, “We will use all the law enforcing agencies that fall within the definition provided by Representation of the People Order (RPO).”

He also observed: “It will not be possible to ensure the safety of the polling stations with the law enforcing agency we have. This is why we will request President to deploy army in the polls.”

The date of deployment of army in the polls is yet to fix, he said.

BDST: 1556 HRS, NOV 04, 2013
SR/MMA/RIS-eic@banglanews24.com