Tabith, Mahi demand army deployment

BNP-blessed mayoral aspirant Tabith Awal and Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh-backed candidate Mahi B Chowdhury today urged the Election Commission to deploy army ahead of the Dhaka city polls scheduled for April 28.

Tabith and Mahi -- both candidates for Dhaka North City Corporation -- made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed.

The view-exchange meeting was held at Agriculturist Institute of Bangladesh in Dhaka this afternoon.

If army is deployed, people will gain trust and an election-friendly atmosphere will prevail ahead of the upcoming the polls, Mahi told reporters.

Tabith said his party men cannot take part in the election campaign as "they are being harassed by the members of law enforcement agencies".

“My supporters and I will comfortably participate in the campaign, if EC deploys the army ahead of the election,” he added.

During the view exchange meeting, the CEC called upon all mayoral and councillor aspirants to extended their cooperation so that the EC can arrange the election in a free and fair manner.

He also asked the candidates not to violate the electoral code of conduct and concerned laws during their campaign.

Ruling Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Annisul Huq and other mayoral and councillors aspirants for the DNCC also attended the view exchange meeting.