C T Online Desk: The Election Commission cannot act as guardians if the political leaderships do not agree in the least bit, says the new chief election commissioner.
On his first day in office, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal urged political parties to come to a resolution among themselves for free and fair elections.
“We request you to come to an agreement that the elections will be conducted fairly. There will be no violence, and no one will be in each other’s way,” he said on Monday.
The CEC made the remarks while speaking to the media on the first day of his five-year tenure in the office.
Awal called on the parties to share the responsibilities saying: “If the Election Commission works by itself then there will be limitations.”
Saying that the commission does not have unlimited power and cannot ensure a level playing field without the cooperation of the parties, he added that the new Election Commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure good governance and capable parliament with fair polls.
The former bureaucrat said that the commission, however, will always cooperate with political leadership.
Responding to queries on the BNP’s refusal to go to the polls with the ruling Awami League in power, he said: “If the BNP has indeed said this, won’t we invite them for tea? It’s not the last dialogue.”
CEC Awal had once before emphasized on agreement between the political parties, saying that they will not accept all blame to be put on the commission.
The remarks came right after his appointment was confirmed by the president.
Awal succeeded KM Nurul Huda, whose tenure was marred by allegations of partiality towards the ruling party and irregularities including polls violence and ballot snatchings.
The CEC along with Election Commissioners Brigadier General Ahasan Habib Khan, Rasheda Sultana, Anisur Rahman and Md Alamgir took office on Monday after taking oath the previous day.
The new Election Commission, formed by the President on February 26, will conduct polls for the next five years including the 12th parliamentary elections.
The appointment was made after the search committee led by Justice Obaidul Hassan shortlisted 10 candidates from the list of names proposed by registered political parties, eminent citizens and individuals.
On January 30, the government published the gazette on the “Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act 2022” after President Md Abdul Hamid signed the bill the previous day.
On January 27, lawmakers passed the bill in parliament paving the way for a legal framework for appointing the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners.
