Dhaka, Dec 16: As Bangladesh prepares to lift the
state-of-emergency, the army has ordered an early deployment
of troops across the country amid fears that Islamist
militants may seek to create security problems ahead of the
landmark parliamentary elections this month.
"We have decided to deploy the troops on December 20
instead of December 24 on the basis of reports that there is
possibility that law and order might deteriorate," Election
Commissioner Brigadier (retd) Sakhawat Hossain told reporters.
He said an intelligence agency have expressed fears
that some militant groups could resurface to create a law and
order situation. Hossain said troops would come out of the
barracks on December 18 on election duty as the state of
emergency was set to be lifted on December 17. The interim
government will lift emergency ahead of the key parliamentary
polls on Dec 29, set to restore democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed today
asked the people to remain vigilant against terrorists and
inform law enforcement agencies of anything suspicious.
Even as "such elements are microscopic in number",
General Ahmed said the "Army is there to deter any act of
terrorism". He underlined the security forces determination to
prevent any sabotage ahead of the polls when asked to comment
on apprehensions expressed by one of the Election
Commissioners.
The army chief's comments came as the elite anti-crime
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sources said they unearthed a
plot by the militant outfit to carryout a countrywide sabotage
ahead of the polls.
Banned Islamist group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh
(JMB) earlier issued letters to politicians and officials
vowing to uproot man-made or "devil's law" particularly in the
north-western region.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 00:00