The presence of troops across Bangladesh on Wednesday was due to concerns of potential violence ahead of the national election which the main opposition party is boycotting. Soldiers were seen in armored vehicles traveling to temporary camps in the capital Dhaka to help maintain peace and security.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had chosen to boycott the election after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refused their demands for her resignation and the transfer of power to a neutral authority for the poll. Hasina has blamed the BNP for inciting anti-government protests that have led to at least 10 deaths in Dhaka since late October.
The military stated that troops would only act upon request from polling officers and that the navy was deployed in two coastal districts, while the air force would provide helicopter assistance to polling stations in remote hilly areas.
The fear of a return of the violence that has plagued Bangladesh in the last two months has citizens concerned about the future and their ability to earn a living. There has been criticism of Hasina’s tight control, alleged authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdown on free speech, and suppression of dissent.
Khaleda Zia, leader of the BNP, is effectively under house arrest due to what her party believes are politically motivated corruption charges. Meanwhile, her son and BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is in exile after being accused of several charges that he denies. Western countries have pressured Hasina’s government to ensure that the elections are free and fair.