By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday lambasted the election commission (EC) for its changed course of action over deployment of army during the city corporation elections.
“It is not possible to ensure security of voters keeping the army men inside cantonments,” she said while speaking at a rally in Dhaka.
The BNP chief said, “Our army provides security during elections in different countries. Then why will they not be deployed during elections in our country?”
People demand that the EC arrange deployment of army during the April 28 Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation elections, she added.
For the April 28 city polls, army members will not be seen patrolling the streets, as the election commission has cancelled the deployment plans.
In a letter to the Armed Forces Division, the EC sought one battalion (over 700 members) of army for each of the three city corporations - two in Dhaka and one in Chittagong that go to polls on Tuesday.
The former premier said, “The Dhaka city people have already taken their decision… they want change.”
The BNP chief resumed electioneering for her party-backed mayoral candidates in Dhaka North and South city corporation elections yesterday. She campaigned for Tabith Awal.
The BNP chief had given a pause to campaigning on Thursday following recent attacks on her motorcade by protesters.
Earlier, chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said the army can best fulfill its role as a reserve force during the three city corporation elections from inside the cantonments.
“The cantonment is centrally located in Dhaka. It is ideal to move anywhere from there...I think the cantonment is the best location (for them),” the CEC told reporters.
Ahmad said though the three battalions of the army will maintain their position inside the cantonments in Dhaka and Chittagong as reserve force, they will act as striking force at the request of the returning
officers.
“If they stay inside the cantonment, it’ll be strategically easier for them to move to Dhaka North and Dhaka South. So they were asked to stay inside the cantonment,” he said.
Last week, the EC said it would deploy three battalions of the army in DSCC, DNCC and CCC areas for four days from April 26 to 29.