BNP urges EC to take firm stance for free and fair polls

Senior leader Moyeen Khan calls for assigning EC officials as returning officers

The BNP has urged the Election Commission (EC) to take a firm stance instead of being “subservient” to the government, to ensure that the general election is free and fair.

Speaking after the EC’s dialogue with political parties at Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday, BNP delegation leader Moyeen said the current situation is not what it was under the Awami League government.

“There is no advantage for the government now, unlike what we saw in the past. If the Election Commission remains subservient to the government, no country can hold a fair and impartial election,” he says.

Five political parties joined the day’s second session of the dialogue. Alongside the BNP, these include the Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, the Bangladesh Republican Party (BRP), and the newly-formed BaSaD (Marxist).

In his opening remarks, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasiruddin said: “We are committed to performing our duties impartially, and we will do so. We seek your cooperation for a good election. We hope you play your role in bringing the people to the polling centres.”

Moyeen proposed that the Election Commission assign its own officials to election duties.

“I am saying clearly, the officials you hire from the government across the 64 districts… make them returning officers. You may not have a large workforce, but you certainly have enough manpower for this.”

On the requirement for candidates’ undertakings, he says: “This undertaking must be given this time; this was not there before. The more the Election Commission increases such regulatory complexities, the more complicated the process becomes.”

Moyeen Khan also urges the Election Commission to ensure that religion is not used “politically” in any part of the electoral process.