Updated on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 00:00 IST

Dhaka, Dec 16: As Bangladesh prepares to lift the state-of-emergency, the army has ordered an early deployment of troops across the country amid fears that Islamist militants may seek to create security problems ahead of the landmark parliamentary elections this month.

"We have decided to deploy the troops on December 20 instead of December 24 on the basis of reports that there is possibility that law and order might deteriorate," Election Commissioner Brigadier (retd) Sakhawat Hossain told reporters.

He said an intelligence agency have expressed fears that some militant groups could resurface to create a law and order situation. Hossain said troops would come out of the barracks on December 18 on election duty as the state of emergency was set to be lifted on December 17. The interim government will lift emergency ahead of the key parliamentary polls on Dec 29, set to restore democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed today asked the people to remain vigilant against terrorists and inform law enforcement agencies of anything suspicious.

Even as "such elements are microscopic in number", General Ahmed said the "Army is there to deter any act of terrorism". He underlined the security forces determination to prevent any sabotage ahead of the polls when asked to comment on apprehensions expressed by one of the Election Commissioners.

The army chief's comments came as the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sources said they unearthed a plot by the militant outfit to carryout a countrywide sabotage ahead of the polls.

Banned Islamist group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) earlier issued letters to politicians and officials vowing to uproot man-made or "devil's law" particularly in the north-western region.

Bureau Report