DHAKA: Bangladesh said on Friday it will deploy thousands of troops next week in an effort to contain deadly political violence ahead of controversial general elections slated for January 5.
Heavily armed troops have already fanned out in major trouble spots across the country but “official deployment” will start December 26, the Election Commission said.
“The army troops will be deployed between December 26 and January 9 across the country,” Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told reporters.
He did not say how many troops will be deployed but local media put the number at around 50,000.
The move comes amid mounting tension in the country with the opposition and a key ruling party ally boycotting the parliamentary polls. The government insists the vote will go ahead as planned.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have been staging protests since late October to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down so that a neutral caretaker government can oversee the election.
AFP
