Bangladesh deploys army to help civil administration hold national elections Jan. 5

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Authorities in Bangladesh are deploying military soldiers to help civil administrators hold national elections on Jan. 5 that the opposition is boycotting.

The main opposition party and many allies are boycotting the vote because Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina refuses to resign and hand over power to a non-party caretaker government that would conduct the polls.

The military said in a statement from its public relations office that the deployment began Thursday and the soldiers will work as a "striking force" until Jan. 9.

Political violence has rattled the nation for months, leaving more than 150 people dead since October.