DHAKA: BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said army deployment is a must to ensure a free and fair parliamentary election.

He made the remark at a discussion titled ‘Necessities of army deployment in the next parliamentary election and citizens’ hopes,’ organized by Bangladesh Democratic Cultural Group, held at the National Press Club on Friday (October 27).

The BNP leader said that, “We understand why Awami League is against deployment of army, because they couldn’t occupy polling stations, ballot boxes couldn’t be filled out the night before the election. Therefore, it would seem like a fair election.”

In talking about ‘Marshal Law,’ Amir Khasru stated, “Magistracy power is not judicial power. Even police have magistracy power, which is manifest through their exercise of authority.”

“Likewise, army is to be given magistracy power in order for them to maintain law and order and protect the people during the polls,” the BNP leader added. 

The adviser of the organization Rezbuddaula Chowdhury presided over the program, while BNP's joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon spoke among others.

BDST: 1800 HRS, OCT 27, 2017
AH/AP