Hold previous election commissions accountable: ERC Head: Free, fair elections after reforms, says new CEC after taking oath
Staff Reporter :
Newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin stated that the country was left in a dire state by the previous government, citing the one-sided nature of the last national elections.
He expressed his firm stance against holding any more “forced elections” and emphasised that the election date would be determined only after necessary electoral reforms are made.
During a meeting with journalists and newly-appointed election commissioners at the Election Commission headquarters on Sunday (24 November), CEC Nasir said, “We will work to meet national expectations.
We are committed to holding a free and fair election with all our strength. I have faced challenges throughout my life without failure, and I am determined to continue that tradition.”
He also urged journalists to assist the Election Commission in rebuilding public trust in the electoral process, pointing out that voter apathy has grown due to the experience of not being able to vote in previous elections.
He asked the media to help increase voter interest and support efforts with pure intentions.
In response to questions, CEC Nasir identified holding a free and fair national election as the commission’s biggest challenge. Earlier, he and four other election commissioners took the oath of office before the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court.
The new commissioners include Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmed, and Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.
CEC Nasir affirmed his commitment to upholding his oath, stating, “Previous Election Commissions violated their oaths, but I will not. I consider this role a great opportunity to serve the nation.”
He highlighted the strength of his team and stressed the need for cooperation from all sectors, including the media, political parties, and the public, to ensure a credible election process.
On the subject of election reforms, Nasir said that while reform is an ongoing process, certain key reforms are necessary for the upcoming elections.
These include discussions on proportional representation and ensuring the inclusion of the younger generation in the voter list. He added, “The Constitution must provide a solution, otherwise how can we conduct elections?” He also pointed out the urgency of time, as the government has set a deadline for December.
Meanwhile, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, the head of the Election Reform Commission (ERC), stated on Sunday that there is widespread demand for accountability for previous election commissions.
He made these comments following a meeting with university professors and civil society leaders at the Election Commission office in Agargaon.
Dr. Majumdar remarked that the past election commissions had conducted controversial and discredited elections, violating their oaths and breaching the constitution. He added that there is almost unanimous public support for holding these bodies accountable.
Discussing the meeting with scholars, Dr. Majumdar said: “Today’s discussion was unique. The participants are experienced and have deep knowledge on these issues. We truly engaged in dialogue and sought to learn from their perspectives.”
He highlighted that the discussions revealed a shared consensus on the need for a caretaker government. The Election Commission must be made independent, strengthened, and, crucially, given financial autonomy.
Dr. Majumdar also noted that there was agreement on the no-vote provision and the importance of political parties and democracy. He emphasised that if democracy is not nurtured within political parties, it is unrealistic to expect it to be established at the state level.
The head of the Reform Commission also mentioned significant discussions on the presidential election, with many participants supporting direct elections and calling for a stronger office of the president.
There was also consensus on the need for women’s direct elections with their own constituencies, as well as the need for electoral law reforms.