By NNN-PTI,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : Bangladesh on Saturday deployed over 40,000 soldiers across the country to maintain law and order, as the intelligence agencies fear attacks by the militants ahead of the general elections on December 29.
The troops will be stationed as “striking forces” alongside Bangladesh Rifles, coastguards, Rapid Action Battalion and armed police until December 31, the bdnews online quoted Home Ministry officials as saying.
RAB and armed police forces will be deployed on December 24. Every district will see one battalion, drawing on 650 to 750 members of the armed forces, it said.
According to earlier reports, the intelligence agencies have expressed fears that some militant groups could resurface to create a law and order situation.
Banned Islamist group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh has issued letters to politicians and officials vowing to uproot man-made or “devil’s law”.
Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed earlier this week urged the people to remain vigilant against terrorists and inform law enforcement agencies of anything suspicious as “such elements are microscopic in number”.
Troops had earlier ‘returned to barracks’ on December 17 as the state of emergency was lifted after almost two years. They began moving out again the very next day to be redeployed by today to help maintain law and order, it said. The armed forces will coordinate with the returning officers.
They will swing into action as soon as the returning or presiding officer seeks assistance. They will also help the police and ansars in securing the polling stations, the officials said.
The troops will be ready at one or more strategic point outside Upazila Sadar so that the presiding officers can immediately contact them just in case, they added.