Reza Mahmud :
Formation of new Election Commission (EC) may face a serious complexity as the ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP have taken totally opposite stance over the issue, said analysts.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Friday proposed to form the next EC based on unity of all political parties when the ruling AL instantly rejected the proposals as a whole. “Actually, there are also no clear laws about the formation of the Commission,” they said.
In this situation, the analysts find it very difficult to forming the new EC with consensus between the two archrival political parties. Moreover, they said, the political rivalry has deepened over the years.
It is to be noted that the tenure of the current EC will be expired by February 8 next year.
“The BNP laid stress on formation of the new EC after sitting with all political parties, including BNP. On the other hand, the government labeled the BNP chief’s call as ‘vanity’. In these circumstances, we have not seen any light of hope at the end of the tunnel,” Dr. Shahdeen Malik, an eminent lawyer and
political analyst told The New Nation on Saturday.
Khaleda Zia at a press conference on Friday put forward 13-point proposals to form a neutral EC. But the ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on same day rejected the proposals labeled them as frivolous. Dr. Shahdeen Malik said, “There is a vacuum about the law of formation of Election Commission. The government said they follow the rule of the Constitutions. But the Constitutions only say ‘the Parliament will pass laws about the appointment of EC, the government will follow the laws to form EC.”
He said, “The Parliament yet not pass any laws on the issue. The government now appointing EC by search committee, but if any one challenge it in the court the system may be canceled, as like as the caretaker system, which has been canceled after holding three national polls.” Professor Md.Aktaruzzaman, Pro-VC (Admin) of Dhaka University told The New Nation, “No one should open new windows of debates over the settle issues like the formation of Election Commission.”
As an elected public representative, he said, the government will form the next EC. The BNP should accept that. There will be a space to trust for everyone. The government is such in a place. Everyone should trust of them. Prof. Aktaruzzaman also said he hope that no one would be able to push the nation towards anarchy by using settled issues like formation of EC.
While Professor Nurul Amin Bepari, the Chairman of Political Science Department of Dhaka University, told The New Nation, “Neutral and trustworthy election commission is a must to hold a free, fair and participatory election. The government should make the EC as a strong institution. But it failed to make it reliable to BNP.” He said, the BNP may not likely to accept one-sided EC appointed by the government. But there is also a doubt about that party’s capability to initiate any strong movement in the streets.
If they finally be able to take to the streets it may push the country towards another unrest situation, he added.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir at a programme yesterday vowed to launch movement as the ruling party refused to accept Khaleda Zia’s proposals. The ruling party fear on free and fair participatory election. So, they have denied our Chairperson’s proposals. In this situation, there is no way but tougher agitation to compel the government to meet our demand,” he said.
Formation of new Election Commission (EC) may face a serious complexity as the ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP have taken totally opposite stance over the issue, said analysts.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Friday proposed to form the next EC based on unity of all political parties when the ruling AL instantly rejected the proposals as a whole. “Actually, there are also no clear laws about the formation of the Commission,” they said.
In this situation, the analysts find it very difficult to forming the new EC with consensus between the two archrival political parties. Moreover, they said, the political rivalry has deepened over the years.
It is to be noted that the tenure of the current EC will be expired by February 8 next year.
“The BNP laid stress on formation of the new EC after sitting with all political parties, including BNP. On the other hand, the government labeled the BNP chief’s call as ‘vanity’. In these circumstances, we have not seen any light of hope at the end of the tunnel,” Dr. Shahdeen Malik, an eminent lawyer and
political analyst told The New Nation on Saturday.
Khaleda Zia at a press conference on Friday put forward 13-point proposals to form a neutral EC. But the ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on same day rejected the proposals labeled them as frivolous. Dr. Shahdeen Malik said, “There is a vacuum about the law of formation of Election Commission. The government said they follow the rule of the Constitutions. But the Constitutions only say ‘the Parliament will pass laws about the appointment of EC, the government will follow the laws to form EC.”
He said, “The Parliament yet not pass any laws on the issue. The government now appointing EC by search committee, but if any one challenge it in the court the system may be canceled, as like as the caretaker system, which has been canceled after holding three national polls.” Professor Md.Aktaruzzaman, Pro-VC (Admin) of Dhaka University told The New Nation, “No one should open new windows of debates over the settle issues like the formation of Election Commission.”
As an elected public representative, he said, the government will form the next EC. The BNP should accept that. There will be a space to trust for everyone. The government is such in a place. Everyone should trust of them. Prof. Aktaruzzaman also said he hope that no one would be able to push the nation towards anarchy by using settled issues like formation of EC.
While Professor Nurul Amin Bepari, the Chairman of Political Science Department of Dhaka University, told The New Nation, “Neutral and trustworthy election commission is a must to hold a free, fair and participatory election. The government should make the EC as a strong institution. But it failed to make it reliable to BNP.” He said, the BNP may not likely to accept one-sided EC appointed by the government. But there is also a doubt about that party’s capability to initiate any strong movement in the streets.
If they finally be able to take to the streets it may push the country towards another unrest situation, he added.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir at a programme yesterday vowed to launch movement as the ruling party refused to accept Khaleda Zia’s proposals. The ruling party fear on free and fair participatory election. So, they have denied our Chairperson’s proposals. In this situation, there is no way but tougher agitation to compel the government to meet our demand,” he said.
