The Election Commission yesterday decided in principle to seek army deployment in Dhaka and Chittagong cities during the elections slated for April 28, according to EC sources.

Seeking anonymity, an election commissioner told this correspondent that the EC would finalise in a couple of days the date of army deployment.

The EC also directed law enforcers to open fire if anyone tries to snatch ballot boxes or create anarchy at polling centres during the city polls.

The decisions came at separate meetings but the EC was yet to make those public. 

Yesterday morning, the EC high-ups sat with senior officials of the home ministry, and law enforcement and intelligence agencies to discuss law and order in the two cities.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad gave law enforcers the directive to open fire on anyone trying to snatch ballot boxes or create anarchy at polling centres, three EC officials, who attended the meeting, told The Daily Star.

Later in the afternoon, the CEC and four other commissioners held an internal meeting at the EC secretariat and decided to ask the government to deploy troops in the polls, said EC sources.

Coming out of the first meeting in the capital's National Economic Council Auditorium, Rakibuddin told journalists, "We have asked the law enforcement agencies to use twice the force if anyone attempts to do anything illegal at any polling centre.

"We will not take any risk. We will take maximum cautionary measures to hold free, fair and credible polls."

According to meeting sources, the high-ups of law enforcement agencies told the EC officials that there was no need to deploy army as the situation in both the cities was peaceful, and that the regular forces were enough to maintain law and order.

Lt Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, said they were ready to work if the government decided to deploy army personnel during the polls.

On the EC's plan to deploy a striking force in every three ward, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque said the force comprising police, APBN and ansar personnel should be deployed in each ward.

Officials of intelligence agencies cautioned that tensions might increase ahead of the elections, as several candidates belonging to one political party are contesting the polls in the same ward.

Sensing defeat, some candidates might try to create anarchy or indulge in violence, they said.

Besides, if BNP-backed candidates suffer defeat in the polls, the party might use it as a tool for waging anti-government movement, they added.

A police official told the meeting that some vested quarters might run smear campaigns by distorting polls-related information to tarnish the image of government and the EC.

An election commissioner suggested checking background of the presiding and polling officers to see whether they have any political affiliation, said meeting sources.