The current situation is conducive for announcing the schedule of the 12th national polls as there are no big obstacles to organizing the election, said Election Commission (EC) Secretary Jahangir Alam after a meeting with top law enforcement officials.
“Intelligence reports and chiefs of law enforcement agencies in the meeting said there are no big obstacles to arranging the 12th national election,” he said.
Jahangir said the current situation is conducive for announcing the schedule of the 12th national polls.
The schedule for the polls would be announced in the first half of November, he added.
The top officials also told the EC, law enforcement bodies will remain vigilant in ensuring that the law and order situation does not deteriorate during BNP’s political programmes as it has called a blockade for the next three days after enforcing hartal on Sunday, said the EC secretary.
Chief Election Commissioner (ECC) Kazi Habibul Awal presided over the meeting. Principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, chiefs of police, Rab, BGB, Ansar, and others attended the meeting.
Election Commissioners Md Ahsan Habib Khan, Rashida Sultana, Md Alamgir and Md Anisur Rahman were present at the meeting.
A number of issues relating to the coming national election discussed in the meeting, he said, adding that in what manner the law enforcers will perform their duties, before election, election-time and post-election situation, how law and order will be ensured and other general issues regarding ensuring security were discussed in the meeting.
He said various intelligence agencies presented their information in the meeting and there will be many more meetings before the polls.
The chiefs of different forces highlighted their capacity, how their manpower were deployed in the past, how the forces will perform their duties in the 12th parliamentary elections, said EC secretary, adding that the CEC listened to comments and gave some instructions.
In line with the discussion, the EC will issue a circular later giving the law enforcement agencies specific instructions regarding deployment of law enforces at centres.
Replying to a question, Jahangir Alam said a decision will be taken later on whether the ballot paper will be sent to polling centres in the morning on the polling day or before the night of the polling day.
The top officers of the law and order forces informed the commission about the current law and order situation.
