B'desh President orders troops pullout from emergency duties

Dhaka, Nov 3 (UNI) Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed today ordered a pullout of troops from emergency duties at field level as the country braces for the December 18 general elections.

The President, also the supreme commander of the armed forces, approved government proposal for a withdrawal of the members of armed forces deployed across the country in aid to civil administration.

The army was deployed with the promulgation of the state of emergency on January 11, 2007 to cool down the political turmoil over an abortive general elections slated for January 22 last year.

The caretaker government headed by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed was expected to relax emergency rules to allow election camapaign by political parties and candidates.

However, major parties are demanding the full lifting of the emergency before the general elections.

He hopes that the relaxation of the emergency rules would not again cause deterioration of law and order.

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