Bangladesh deploys army ahead of controversial January 5 polls

The government last week called out paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police to contain the political violence that has claimed around 130 lives since October.  

Several hundred opposition activists were arrested after the forces were deployed in trouble spots like southwestern Satkhira, northwestern Sirajganj and northwestern Chitagong.  

The military is guarding major highways and troubled areas to secure the movement of convoys as part of their annual winter exercise that began earlier this month.  

The military statement said troops would ensure normal vehicular movement on highways during and after the polls while a “central combination cell” has been formed at the Armed Forces Division to help the civil administration.