“Though the election commissioner holds a constitutional post, he is not an isolated person. His comment is a reflection of countrymen’s feelings,” said the ruling party’s joint general secretary on Monday.
He was addressing a press briefing at party President Sheikh Hasina’s political office at Dhanmondi against the backdrop of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami criticising Monday’s elections to 73 Upazilas in the fifth phase of the local government polls.
Abdul Mobarak on Sunday criticised the BNP Chairperson’s remark that the Commission was "loyal to the government".
He said that the BNP had its nose rubbed in the dirt in self-humiliation by contesting the Upazila council elections under the current Election Commission.
Khaleda Zia has repeatedly said that the EC, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, lacked spine and was the government’s puppet.
The BNP had earlier boycotted the last national election conducted by the present EC, alleging that the polls would not be free and fair under it.
It, however, appeared to have changed its mind and joined the local government polls.
Jahangir Kabir Nanak on Monday said that there was no room for questioning the role of the EC over the Upazila polls.
“All should applaud the EC for holding the local government polls in a peaceful manner. It has duly discharged its responsibility of conducting such a big election regardless of BNP and Jamaat resorting to violence and anarchy and spreading false propaganda.”
The Awami League leader further said that no one should doubt the neutrality of the EC.
“The EC postponed the voting at a polling centre during the by-election to Tangail-8 constituency. But we didn’t oppose it, rather we hailed the EC.”
