Credible JS elections must to save economy, future: CEC
Staff Reporter :
The upcoming parliamentary polls should be free and fair for the sake of the country’s economy and future, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Monday.
The Chief Election Commissioner also expressed that it was unfortunate that some countries were exerting pressure on Bangladesh centering the polls scheduled to take place on January 7, next year.
He made these observations yesterday while addressing members of the election inquiry committee at the opening ceremony of a workshop on electoral rules and code of conduct at the electoral training institute.
“If we want to save ourselves, the garment sector, as well as the people, the upcoming election should be free, fair and credible. People of the country as well as foreigners want such an election,” he mentioned.
The CEC said, “The country is currently in a state of crisis, with undesirable political divisions emerging in relation to the upcoming election. We have to get out of this crisis.”
“We want to see undisputed results in the elections. All agents should accept the results,” he added.
The CEC also directed those who have been assigned election duties to monitor if anyone is violating the code of conduct.
“Elections must be ensured to keep democracy alive.
We, the administration, could not control irregularities during the by-elections, we have to come out of this practice,” Kazi Habibul Awal said.
CEC Awal said to the judges that they should have honesty and courage in performing their duties during the election.
“Bangladesh is a republic. Bangladesh can never be a republic without elections. If democracy is to be saved, elections must be held. Disputes over elections are unexpected,” he said.
“Public perception has no criterion of whether the elections were credible and free.
People will tell whether the elections are credible or not,” Kazi Habibul Awal said.
The 12th Jatiya Sangsad election will be held on 7 January, the Election Commission announced on 15 November amid staunch objections from the opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Rejecting the election schedule, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned that the country was now headed towards an “inevitable conflict”.
The ruling Awami League welcomed the EC announcement, saying it goes in line with the constitution and elections will be held accordingly.
To conduct the election on 300 constituencies, the EC has appointed a total of 66 returning officers and 592 assistant returning officers.
Meanwhile, in another event Election Commissioner Begum Rashida Sultana on Monday expressed hope that the BNP will join the upcoming general election.
Rashida made the remarks at the BIAM Foundation conference hall in Bogura yesterday afternoon according to the local correspondent.
“Even if BNP decides to come to polls, it will have to be held by January 28 next year. According to the constitution, there is no scope to extend the time,”EC Rashida said.
“We want all parties’ participation. For this reason, we are calling out those who do not want to come to the election. We are still hopeful that they [BNP] will come. If they come then we will definitely take it into consideration,” she added.
Besides, Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan expressed that the Election Commission (EC) is sincerely trying to hold a participatory, fair and credible election.
“The most important thing in a democratic country is the election. Country’s people and political parties keen for holding a free, fair and credible election. Constitutionally, this responsibility is entrusted to the EC,” he made these remarks while exchanging views as chief guest with government officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room at Khulna on Monday.
