Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed says he deployed soldiers in the capital of Dhaka and other cities to maintain order before January's general elections.
The president explained his action during a televised speech to the nation late Sunday. He ordered the deployment late Saturday amid threats by an opposition alliance to intensify protests and lay siege to the presidential palace.
The leader of the opposition Awami League , Sheikh Hasina criticized the president's order, saying the situation did not warrant the army's deployment.
The interim government says it is making efforts to resolve the political standoff, while the Awami League says the Ahmed administration is not taking adequate steps to ensure neutral elections.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which led the last government, has accused the Awami League of trying to impose its own conditions on the January 23rd elections.
The president explained his action during a televised speech to the nation late Sunday. He ordered the deployment late Saturday amid threats by an opposition alliance to intensify protests and lay siege to the presidential palace.
The leader of the opposition Awami League , Sheikh Hasina criticized the president's order, saying the situation did not warrant the army's deployment.
The interim government says it is making efforts to resolve the political standoff, while the Awami League says the Ahmed administration is not taking adequate steps to ensure neutral elections.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which led the last government, has accused the Awami League of trying to impose its own conditions on the January 23rd elections.