CEC MA Aziz resigns, finally

Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz resigned Sunday, saying he did not want to give certain parties an opportunity to create new obstacles in the process of holding elections.Aziz did not return home after he handed in his resignation letter to President Iajuddin Ahmed, newsmen who followed his car said. Aziz stopped halfway down the road to his home in Kakrail. >> Statement by MA Aziz

Dhaka, Jan 21 (bdnews24.com) – Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz resigned Sunday, saying he did not want to give certain parties an opportunity to create new obstacles in the process of holding elections.

Aziz did not return home after he handed in his resignation letter to President Iajuddin Ahmed, newsmen who followed his car said. Aziz stopped halfway down the road to his home in Kakrail. He left the Bangabhaban in an unflagged car at 4:50pm, escorted by police.

"I feel that if I continue in the post of CEC this may give certain political parties the opportunity to create once again new obstacles in the democratic process of holding national elections. This would be seriously prejudicial to the interest of the country," he said in a statement circulated among reporters at the Election Commission.

The CEC went on three-month leave, bowing to pressure from the 14-party alliance.

He said: "The post of the Chief Election Commissioner is a constitutional post. As CEC I have always attempted to perform my duties with sincerity and dedication. I have done my best to ensure the holding of free, fair and impartial elections in accordance with the constitution.

"However, despite my best efforts, a major political alliance of the country could not repose confidence upon me. This led me to go on leave until the 22nd of February 2007.

"Over the last few weeks the political scenario has changed rapidly. A new caretaker government has been sworn in which is working towards creating an environment for holding elections acceptable to all the political parties.

"Any further unrest would also be highly detrimental to the economic interest of Bangladesh. In order to prevent such an undesirable situation from arising, I have resigned from the post of CEC.

"I hope that a newly constituted Election Commission would be able to hold a free and fair election in due course."

Sources close to the presidential palace said Aziz entered the Bangabhaban at 4:05pm and left at 4:50pm.

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