Election Commissioner Talukdar sees playing field not even

The chief election commissioner claims equal opportunities have been ensured for all, but his colleague Mahbub Talukdar believes that is not the case.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 17 Dec 2018, 02:30 PM
Updated : 17 Dec 2018, 03:48 PM

Election Commissioner Talukdar’s comments came on Monday, two days after CEC KM Nurul Huda claimed the playing field has been made even.

He believes not all the candidates for the 300 parliamentary constituencies enjoy equal opportunities, an allegation frequently raised by the BNP and its allies ahead of the Dec 30 election.

The commissioner, however, also believes they still have time to make the election free and fair. 

On Saturday, CEC Huda told the media that no candidate was facing any obstacles in campaigning.

After a delegation of the BNP’s Jatiya Oikya Front alliance met the election commissioners with complaints of obstruction to its candidates’ campaign, journalists asked for the Election Commission’s reaction to the complaints.

Talukdar later released a written statement with answers to the media questions and said he would not take any more question.

Q: Do you think there is a level playing field for election?

A: I don’t think there is a level playing field for the election. The phrase ‘level playing field’ has become meaningless now.

Q: Do you oppose the CEC’s view that a level playing field has been ensured?

A: I never oppose his (CEC’s) comments. He has his own views while I differ with him if necessary. You are journalists. You are aware of the news around the country. You see everything. You will get the answer if you question your own conscience whether a level playing field for the election exists or not.

Q: There have been complaints about obstructions to campaigning of opposition candidates across the country. Is a free and fair election is possible in this situation?

A: I am an optimistic individual. We must ensure free and fair polls as we have promised in the remaining days before the election. Executive magistrates, judicial magistrates, and electoral inquiry committee judges have the most effective role to play. I think the situation will change as expected once the army is deployed.

Q: Do you think the election will be fair and joined by all the parties as said by the CEC?

A: An election is called inclusive when all the parties contest in it. Inclusiveness is a primary achievement but it has nothing to do with fairness. The main thing is whether the election is acceptable and credible. If not, only inclusiveness will yield no outcome.

Q: Are the public administration and the law-enforcing agencies under the EC’s control?

A: We don’t conduct elections directly, but through the returning officers, relevant officials, and law-enforcing agencies. The top brass in the law-enforcing agencies are under the Election Commission’s control. They can say it better how much the officials of their forces are under their control.  

Q: Do you have any message to deliver in this circumstance?

A: What I want to say is that organising the national election is a gigantic task. The candidates, voters and the law enforcers must not step beyond the law. Let the law take its own course. Please follow the electoral code of conduct and help us conduct a successful election.

Talukdar made headlines several times for his dissents on different issues such as electronic voting machines or EVMs. He had also boycotted a commission meeting over the use of EVMs in parliamentary elections.

Talukdar was a BNP pick for the EC, according to the government and the ruling Awami League leaders.