Partisan govt makes Election Commission helpless: Moudud

An Election Commission becomes 'helpless' if the administration is ruled by a partisan government, no matter how strong the EC is, BNP leader Moudud Ahmed has said.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 9 Dec 2016, 01:53 PM
Updated : 9 Dec 2016, 01:53 PM

And that is why the BNP has been demanding that the next general election be overseen by a polls-time non-partisan supporting government, he says.

"Our experience is that if the administration and the law-enforcing agencies remain under a partisan government, the EC becomes helpless; it cannot work independently, neutrally," Moudud, an influential member of the BNP Standing Committee, said.

"That's why we have spoken about a polls-time supporting government under which the EC can work independently in order to hold free and fair elections," he added.

Speaking at a discussion in National Press Club on Friday, Moudud noted that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has presented a proposal to form and strengthen the next EC, which will supervise the next general election.

"We are glad that the government has also said it will accept whatever decision the president makes," he said.

According to Moudud, the constitution of a neutral EC is the first step to 'revive' democracy.

"The second step is to determine under which government the EC can work properly," he said.

President Md Abdul Hamid has said he will hold talks with the political parties to form the next EC after Dec 16 Victory Day as the tenure of the current one, led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, is ending in February.

Speaking about the president's initiative in Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Hasina said, "We will see what the president does and we will accept it that way."

Moudud has, however, welcomed the prime minister's comments that the Awami League will accept whatever EC the president forms.

Moudud on Friday said, "Many things are depending on our president. We hope he will make recommendations considering our proposal to form a strong, neutral EC."