Army deployed in eight Bangladesh constituencies

The Election Commission of Bangladesh Friday decided to deploy army until Jan 17 in eight constituencies where polling was postponed, officials said.

"The Election Commission has decided to deploy armed forces along with law enforcers to hold re-polling in a free, fair, and peaceful manner," bdnews24.com quoted the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate as saying.

Repolling will be held Jan 16 at 392 centres of the eight constituencies - Dinajpur-4, Kurigram-4, Bogra-7, Jessore-5, Lakshmipur-1 and Gaibandha-1, 3 and 4.

The army would work as a striking force in the constituencies, it added.

The army was deployed across the country Dec 26 to help the civil administration hold polls peacefully. It will now be stationed on important roads and highways until Jan 9 to maintain law and order.

The parliamentary elections were held Jan 5 despite the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance's call to thwart the polls.

Voting was held in 147 constituencies, as candidates in 153 seats were declared uncontested winners.

Polling was suspended in the eight constituencies due to violence.