DHAKA/WASHING­TON: Thousands of army soldiers are being deployed across Bangladesh to provide security and help conduct natio­nal elections next Sunday.

The deployment began early on Monday and the soldiers will be on duty until Jan 2, the military’s public relations office said.

The soldiers are setting up camps in 389 areas and navy personnel are fanning out across the coast, according to the statement. The air force is keeping helicopters ready for any urgent needs, and the soldiers will maintain order on important roads or highways whenever needed.

Earlier this month, authorities deployed paramilitary border forces in 87 bordering areas.

While such deployment is common ahead of national elections in Bangladesh, the opposition has been strongly demanding the military’s engagement in the election process amid concern that violence could happen. The soldiers usually work as a striking force.The South Asian country’s 11th general election is going to happen amid opposition allegations that thousands of its leaders and activists have been arrested to weaken them. But authorities say the arrests are not politically motivated and the opposition is trying to create chaos ahead of elections.

US election monitors scrapped

The United States has urged Bangladesh to do more to ensure a free election, blaming government foot-dragging on issuing visas for the cancellation of an international monitoring mission.

The Asian Network for Free Elections, an observation group funded by the US, called off its mission for next Sunday’s vote after Bangladesh did not promptly grant visas and credentials, the State Department said.

State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said the United States was “disappointed” by Bangladesh’s “inability” to provide visas in time and called on Dhaka to ensure that local non-governmental organisations receive credentials to monitor the vote.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2018