Dhaka, Oct. 20 -- The Election Commission (EC) will assess a proposal to deploy law enforcement agencies, including armed forces, for eight days instead of the tradition of five days, during the 13th parliamentary election to be held in early February next.

"Normally, the (security forces) deployment programme is for five days, but a proposal has been made to extend it to eight days. The proposal is to deploy (security) forces three days before the polls, on the polling day, and four days after the election. Our initial plan was for five days, but now this eight-day proposal has been placed, and we will examine it," said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Monday.

The EC Secretary told reporters after a views-exchange with different law...