Staff Reporter :
“Election Commission (EC) is in a crisis as to how to hold a free, fair and credible election. It feels uncertainty to bring all political parties in the election. It also expressed doubt about the next election’s acceptance.”
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said this during a dialogue with Bangladesh Islami Front at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Monday.
Confusion has been prevailing about the next national polls, the CEC said, “Confusion has arisen among some political parties about the polls. Several political parties do not want to join the election. They have made it clear that they will not
participate in the election. The next general polls won’t be participatory without the participation of BNP.”
Kazi Habibul Awal said, “Every day I read newspapers and come to know that BNP and some other like-minded parties have decided not to participate in the election. They have some demands, including a polls time government. They will not join election if the demands are not met. These conditions have created uncertainty and confusion.”
He said one major party is saying that they won’t participate in the election. Another party is saying the election will take place. The CEC also said that they do not want to see a drama staged in the name of the election.
The CEC said, there must be a people’s representative government. There is no alternative to election for that. He said whether the two parties’ statements about the election are contradictory conflict will shake the political arena.
The CEC said they would endeavour to hold a credible election. He said that BNP must establish its demands by means of discussions and struggle because the constitution is involved in this.
Kazi Habibul Awal also said, “We have no preference. We have only one job – to allow voters to exercise their right to franchise. We will certainly try to take legal action if we come to know that voters being prevented from voting in villages and towns.”
Besides, during the dialogue, proposal was given to bring the Ministries of Public Administration, Home, Defence, Finance and Local Government under the Election Commission.
He said it would be difficult to implement the proposal to bring the various ministries under the EC during the election. This involved certain complex constitutional issues. The political parties could discuss the issue among themselves. Saying that the EC held ample authority, he said, “In the past, perhaps for some reason, it failed to exert that authority. But if needed, we shall try to exert this authority.”
In his opening statement in the morning, the CEC said, “BNP and a few other parties have expressed their no-confidence in advance. We have no comment about this. I do not understand what special favours we have taken to be biased. We will have no objection if BNP comes to an understanding with Awami League or comes to the election under any other new arrangement.”
During the discussion with Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) on Sunday CEC said, “The Election Commission (EC) will fail to hold a free and fair election if they don’t get cooperation from all the political parties. We’ll try our best, but if anyone raises a sword towards you, you’ll show a rifle or a sword to him instead of running away.”
This comment sweeps outrage, wonder and frustration among election stakeholders, civil society and political parties.
