The 1,600,000-strong Bangladesh Army is ‘seriously reviewing’ implications of deployment to maintain law and order in the rundown to and during the 7th January Bangladesh parliament polls.

Its top commanders are worried that the Army may get tainted by allegations of partisanship trying to provide security cover for an Opposition-less election held with a prorogued but not dissolved House, at a time when its improved professional credentials have earned it increasing space in UN peacekeeping operations.

“Seven of the ten division commanders of Bsnhladesh army have argued against election time deployment along with two senior lieutenant-generals ,” a top Bangladesh intelligence official said on conditions of anonymity .

The professional concern explains why the date of Army deployment for elections was shifted from Dec. 28 to January 3, confirmed a top military commander whose formation was earmarked for immediate deployment but is yet to be deployed at the time of writing.

“We were ready but our bosses are having second thoughts,” said the commander who cannot be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

He said the Awami League government, worried over going into an election with the threat of violence lurking, has gone for a comprehensive military reshuffle late December, appointing Lt Gen Waker-uz-Zaman as Chief of General Staff in place of the outgoing Lt Gen Ataul Hassan Sarwar Hakim .

Lt Gen Waker is considered a loyalist of PM........

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