Troops to patrol polling centre premises during election: Army

The Bangladesh Army on Thursday said the officers will exercise magistracy powers and troops will patrol the polling centre premises in the upcoming election.

At a press conference held at Roller Skating Complex in Gulistan in the capital, Brig Gen Dewan Manjurul Islam said the decision has been taken for the first time.

Manjurul added the army will also deploy one lakh troops during the election - a 150% increase from previous elections.

In previous elections, the army only functioned as a striking force and maintained presence at a distance from polling centres, the army officer further said.