 The Election Commission (EC) in an unprecedented move yesterday agreed to allow the armed forces to arrest anyone from any place without a warrant during their engagement in election duties. | Human Rights Watch: *crickets* |
The Armed Forces Division (AFD) in a proposal earlier sought the power for the army, navy and the air force for seven days including the polling day to ensure a peaceful atmosphere and security of voters in light of the existing law and order situation.| Democratic National Committee: *crickets* |
Responding to the proposal, the EC finally asked the home ministry yesterday to issue a notification to allow the armed forces to have the authority as they had desired in addition to the power they already have to arrest any person within a radius of four hundred yards of a polling station on the polling day.The EC in its letter to the home ministry however did not specify the time limit for allowing the armed forces to exercise the new power. | UN Secretary General Ban: *crickets* |
The home ministry will decide for how many days the armed forces will be allowed to exercise the power. But sources in the EC said the armed forces will enjoy the power for 20 days from January 10, the day of their deployment across the country on election duties. President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday directed the armed forces to carry out their assigned duties for holding the January 22 parliamentary election in a fair manner. The president gave the instruction when Army Chief Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed called on him in Bangabhaban in the afternoon.| "Yes, yes. The general and I are in complete agreement. What's good for the Party is good for Bangladesh!" |
Being legally empowered, the army, navy and the air force will be able to take actions against any person if the person is guilty of unduly influencing or compelling any other person to vote or to refrain from voting, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on his or her behalf.| MoveOn.org, Rob Reiner, Michael Moore, Barbra Streisand: all washing their hair that week. Together. |
"The Election Commission has agreed with the proposal considering the prevailing situation centring the parliamentary election," EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar told The Daily Star yesterday, terming the security of voters as crucial following Awami League-led grand alliance's announcement of boycotting and resisting the election.| Europe: Had to take to its bed with acute BDS. Good luck, Bangla electorate. You're gonna need it. |
|