DHAKA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed on Saturday ordered the deployment of the army across the country to strengthen law and order and ensure peaceful elections next month.

The president heads an interim government in charge of holding the election due on January 23 in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The home (interior) ministry said the civil administration had been asked to prepare for the deployment and keep magistrates ready to help troops on duty.

At least 44 people have been killed and hundreds injured in clashes between rival political activists since late October. A 15-party alliance led by Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, has threatened to launch bigger protests including a siege of the presidential palace if the president failed to remove election officials it accuses of a bias towrds its rivals.

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