The latest petition sought the directive in light of the Election Commission (EC) decision to ask the government for deployment of troops to ensure a free and fair vote.

The HC division bench of Justice MA Matin and Justice Tarik Ul Hakim will hear the petition today.

The High Court in an order on June 20 on a similar writ petition said the earlier petition was premature and that no-one had declined troops deployment in the constituency. The court however expected of the government to take necessary steps, including the deployment of army, to hold the vote in a free and fair manner.

But after the High Court order, BDB candidate Mannan and three others apprehended that the authorities would not provide sufficient security and deploy army personnel in the constituency in line with the EC decision.

With only three days to the crucial voting, which was deferred to July 1 from its scheduled date of June 6 due to legal bindings, the government is yet to say in clear terms whether it will deploy troops in the polling centres of the constituency.

A May 24 home ministry circular still stands valid, which said two companies of army alongside other law-enforcement agencies will remain on guard during the Munshiganj-1, held in June 6, and Dhaka-10 by-polls.

The EC at a meeting on June 13 decided to ask the government to deploy army personnel in each polling centre of the Ramna-Tejgaon seat and Chief Election Commissioner MA Syed on June 15 sent a letter to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia conveying the decision.

Election Commissioner AK Mohammad Ali told The Daily Star last night he was optimistic that the government would deploy army according to the expectation of the High Court and EC officials as well.

Advocate MK Rahman, the counsel for the petitioners, said the petitioners yesterday checked with the EC if army personnel would be deployed in accordance with the decision. But the EC officials said they have not received any response or orders from the government.

The three other contesting candidates, who filed writ with Abdul Mannan, are Abu Saleh Mohammad Kibria, Mazharul Islam and Abu Hamidur Reza Khan.

The petition quoting press reports said the BNP secretary general, senior joint secretary general and other leaders, accompanied by some ministers, at meetings in the constituency have been speaking against army deployment. They also reportedly said the government would not deploy army in each polling centre despite the EC decision and expectation of the court.