"The army will be engaged in election duties from January 10. They will recover illegal arms and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to ensure security of voters so that they can cast votes in a peaceful atmosphere," Election Commission (EC) Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar told reporters yesterday.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will also act to maintain law and order before and after the election. "Fielding Rab at the polling centres depends on the inspector general of police as the elite force is part of the police force," he said.

The armed forces ---army, air force and navy --- on election duty for 20 days from January 10 to help maintain law and order.

Besides, the home ministry is chalking out security measures on the polling day, sources at the EC Secretariat said. "In consultation with the Election Commission, the home ministry will finalise its security measures at and around the polling stations, " a senior EC official told The Daily Star yesterday.

Asked whether the polling is going to be risky due to the boycott decision of the grand alliance, the EC secretary said of course it would hamper the congenial situation but the EC would do its best to hold the elections smoothly. "We will ask the caretaker government to ensure security of the voters so that they can cast votes free from any risk."

The EC today starts printing of ballot papers for the election but it is yet to know the exact number of voters.

"I can't say now what is the exact number of voters," Rashid Sarkar admitted. "We will come to know this soon."

Asked about his feelings about the 'one-sided' election, he replied, "None likes such election but there is nothing else we can do."

The returning officers (RO) yesterday completed allocation of poll symbols for the political parties and independent candidates. They can start election campaign today.

Meanwhile, the grand alliance today holds rallies and brings out processions against holding of the January 22 election, in line with its decision to boycott and resist the polls.

It will also enforce a 48-hour countrywide blockade on January 7 and 8.

The caretaker government on Wednesday decided to deploy army to take control of the streets ahead of the countrywide blockade.

The grand alliance comprises AL led-14-party, Jatiya Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Zaker Party, a faction of Islami Oikya Jote, and Islamic Front Bangladesh.

SECRETARY'S BRIEFING
On election preparations, the EC secretary said they have completed procurement of election materials and packing and printing of different polls-related forms, which would be sent to the polling centres anytime.

Asked whether rescheduling of the election is possible, he said EC constitutional experts find no alternative to holding the polls by January 25. "Even if there is an alternative, none can assure that all the political parties will take part in the elections," he added.

Rashid further said there is no scope to shift the polling date beyond the 90-day time limit because filing of nomination papers, scrutiny and withdrawal of those have been completed. "Even some of the candidates have already been elected unopposed."

Asked whether the electoral roll has reached all the 300 constituencies, he said the main list prepared in 2000 is already available everywhere. The updated list has also been sent to most of the constituencies and it will be sent to the remaining constituencies shortly.

Replying to another question, he said flaws in the list are possible and their correction is also possible on specific complaints. "It is not a big problem, I think."