Chief Election Commissioner Huda hopeful of talks with political parties

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda says he does not find the BNP's reaction to the polls roadmap to be worrying and has described it as political rhetoric.

On Sunday, the Election Commission or EC announced its work plan leading to the next general elections.

Speaking to bdnews24.com on Tuesday, Huda said they were expecting something good to come out of their talks with the political parties.

"The political parties have a lot of factors to consider. There will be a lot of criticism over our roadmap. We look forward to hearing those in detail during the dialogues with the parties. We will consider their suggestions then," said Huda, who was sworn in as the CEC in February.

Among several other issues, the EC's work plan stipulates a series of talks with stakeholders, centering on seven specific matters, including legal reforms and delimiting the constituencies to finalise their territorial areas.

The BNP, which boycotted the 2014 elections on demands of reinstating the caretaker polls-time administration, now says a non-partisan government is imperative to create a level-playing field.

While unveiling the roadmap on Sunday, CEC Huda said they will initiate legal measures to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the polls after the schedules are announced. "The commission cannot do anything before the schedules are announced."

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they find the EC's roadmap as the 'blueprint for the Awami League to come to power once again.'

Meanwhile, ruling party leaders have welcomed the roadmap, but its General Secretary Obaidul Quader said," What the EC has come up with is a roadmap, we want to see its implementation.”

However, the BNP is still open to the EC dialogue. "We will decide on it, when the talks are scheduled," said senior BNP leader Alamgir.

Huda finds this as a ray of hope to end the differences between the parties over the next election.

"We will work in line with our roadmap. The parties' statements are political rhetoric.”

Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam says the political parties' reactions will actually help them.

"We welcome criticism, because it gives an opportunity to correct the mistakes.”