EC
BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday categorically said their party will not participate in any dialogue with the current Election Commission (EC).
"Our position is clear that there is no reason for BNP to take part in any talks with the Election Commission. It matters little whether the commission holds dialogue or not,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party thinks the current Election Commission’s dialogue has no value. “So, there is no question of talking to them (EC).”
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks a day after Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal’s comment that BNP would be invited to the dialogue soon.
Also read: AL planning to cling to power through reign of terror: Fakhrul
Sammilito Chhatra Jubo Forum arranged the discussion programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 7th death anniversary of BNP leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu.
On May 3, 2015, former BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Reiterating their party’s stance on the next election, Mosharraf said BNP will not join any election under the current Awami League government.
He said BNP did not take part in the 'dramas' staged by the President and a search committee when the government formed the current EC. “We don’t recognise in any way those are now there in the commission."
"The election that we want must be held under a non-party neutral government after the fall or resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the dissolution of parliament,” the BNP leader said.
Once a non-partisan government takes charge of the country, he said it will form an impartial and acceptable EC to conduct the election in a fair and credible manner. “Then we’ll talk to that Election Commission.”
Mosharraf said Awami League resorted to various tactics in the past centering the national elections. "I want to make it clear that BNP and people will no longer fall into the trap of the ruling party.”
He called upon the country’s people to take all-out preparations to wage a street movement to bring a change in the government.
Also read: PM’s remark on Khaleda amounts to a ‘death threat’: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the current government is not in a good mood as it has no control over anything. "The ruling party leaders can’t sleep well...Bangladesh is in a much worse situation than Sri Lanka economically, politically and socially."
He said the government is not making public all the indicators of the economy. "The government talks about reserves. Economist Debapriya Bhattacharya in a statement said the government is not fully providing the information about the repayment of loans from our reserves.”
Work impartially with courage, President urges EC
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday called upon the Election Commission to discharge its duties with courage and impartiality.
The president made the call when the Election Commissioners led by the new Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal called on him at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
Election commissioners Brigadier General (Retd) Ahsan Habib Khan, Rashida Sultana, Mohammad Alamgir and Anisur Rahman were present.
Hamid said elections are very important in the democratic process and the role of Election Commission is crucial in this .
He said that proper exercise of power is very important for proper discharge of duty.
President Hamid hoped that all elections, including the national elections, would be fair and acceptable under the supervision of the new EC.
READ: President calls for more US investment in Bangladesh
The president said that all political parties, including the executive branch, have to play a responsible role in ensuring a fair and acceptable election.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin, and Election Commission Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker were present.
It’s AL-backed EC of bureaucrats: JaPa
Describing the new Election Commission EC as an Awami League-backed Commission of bureaucrats, Jatiya Party on Sunday voiced doubt whether it will be able to hold neutral and credible polls.
“The newly appointed Election Commission is an Awami League-supported bureaucrat-dependent one,” said Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu.
Talking to reporters after a meeting of Jatiya Party presidium members at the Banani office of its Chairman, he also said the activities of the new EC will exhibit how impartial they are.
Also read: Next EC not to make any difference, says BNP
Earlier on Saturday, President Abdul Hamid appointed former defence secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new Chief Election Commissioner.
Based on the search committee’s recommendations, he also appointed Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan (retd), former district and sessional judge Begum Rashida Sultana, former senior secretaries Mohammad Alamgir and Anisur Rahman as the four other commissioners of the new EC.
The tenure of the immediate past EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, expired on February 14.
Replying to a question, Chunnu said both BNP and Awami League could not hold neutral elections.
He recalled that their party’s late Chairman HM Ershad had earlier proposed the introduction of proportional representation in elections. “There’s no alternative to the proportional representation system for free, fair and neutral elections.”
This is a concept meaning that the number of parliamentary seats won by a party is proportional to the number of votes it received.
Also read: People want a change in politics: GM Quader
“It’s possible to have a fair election only in a proportional representation system,” the Jatiya Party secretary general said.
He, however, said political parties need to trust each other and cooperate with each other for holding the polls in a fair and acceptable manner.
“Fair elections will never be possible in Bangladesh if the political parties don’t reach a consensus about the election system,” he observed.
According to the current law on the Election Commission, Chunnu said the employees of the republic will work under the EC during the election period and they’re bound to listen to its orders. “But nothing has been said about what will happen if they don't obey (the EC’s orders).”
He said their party had a demand for enacting the law empowering the EC to take action against those who will defy its orders during the election period.
“The government didn’t enact that law. If a law is enacted empowering the Election Commission and the Commission shows goodwill, then fair elections will be possible. Or else, fair elections are difficult,” Chunnu opined.
Responding to another question, he said Jatiya Party is an election-oriented party, and they will decide whether they should join the next general elections or not under the new EC before the polls.
President appoints former defence secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new CEC
President Abdul Hamid has appointed former defence secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new Chief Election Commissioner.
The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Saturday.
Four other election commissioners are Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan (retd), former district and sessional judge Begum Rashida Sultana , former senior secretary Mohammad Alamgir and former senior secretary Anisur Rahman.
Kazi Habibul Awal, a law professor at Brac University, joined the Ministry of Defence as Secretary on 3 March 2014.
Then he was appointed as senior secretary in the same ministry on 1 December 2014. He retired on 20 January 2015.
Also read: President Hamid receives 10 names for EC proposed by search committee
He was reappointed as senior secretary in the Ministry of Defence on 21 January 2015.
On Thursday, President Abdul Hamid received the names of 10 individuals recommended by the search committee to be appointed in the next five-member Election Commission at Bangabhaban.
Two names were proposed for each post.
He said the chosen names will soon be published through gazette notification.
The search committee held a series of meetings with eminent citizens and civil society representatives since its formation early this month. It also received names from most of the 39 registered political parties, including ruling Awami League.
Main opposition BNP and several others did not send any names.
This is the first time an election commission is being formed under a law mandated by the constitution. The law on the appointment of the CEC and other commissioners was passed by the parliament on January 27.
The tenure of the immediate past EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, expired on February 14 amid allegations of inefficient handling of the 2018 parliamentary polls and the recent violence-marred UP elections.
Also read: Outgoing CEC, election commissioners call on President Hamid
The search committee was led byJustice Obaidul Hassan of the Appellate Division.
And other members were Justice SM Quddus Zaman, Auditor General and Controller of Bangladesh Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Bangladesh Public Service Commission Chairman Md Sohrab Hossain, and former election commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hossain and author Anwara Syed Haque were present.
President Hamid receives 10 names for EC proposed by search committee
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday received the names of 10 individuals recommended by the search committee to be appointed in the next five-member Election Commission at Bangabhaban.
The president will now review the names to pick five from among them for appointment as chief election commissioner and four other commissioners, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said.
Two names have been proposed for each post.
Also read: Disclose 10 final names: Shujan to Search Committee
He said the chosen names will soon be published through gazette notification.
Govt deceiving people in forming EC
BNP Secretery General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government is deceiving people in the name of formation of the Election Commission (EC) through the search committee.
“The people of Bangladesh have been deprived of their minimum rights to vote. The new EC is being formed. We've earlier said this EC won’t' be useful unless there's no neutral and non-party polls-time government," he said.
Speaking at a book lunching programme at the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader said the government wants to consolidate its power to restore one-party Baksal rule. “They're going to form the Election Commission through the search deceiving people to hold national elections like those in 2014 and 2018.
The Universal Academy arranged the programmer to unveil the cover of the book titled “Smriti Album" (Memory Album) on the life and work of BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Also read: Govt 'indulging again' in acts of enforced disappearance, abduction: BNP
Referring to newspaper reports, Fakhrul said an official at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been removed as he identified some corrupt people. “But he was removed as those people (corrupt ones) have accused him of being corrupt.”
He alleged that the ACC official was removed without conducting any fair investigation into the allegations brought against him. “Corruption has engulfed the country with the government's backing."
The BNP leader also said the relatives of the Education Minister plundered around Tk 300 crore in the name of land acquisition for a university in Chandpur.
“I’ve read in the newspaper that per km construction cost of the road from Dhaka Airport to Tonggi was shown Tk 213 crore which is unprecedented in the world. “Widespread corruption is now everywhere. Corruption is now spreading like cancer,” he observed.
Also read: ‘Awami private committee’ formed in search committee’s name: BNP
Fakhrul bemoaned that even the vice-chancellors of different universities are indulging in corruption. “Those working in the health ministry are involved in corruption. There’s no place and sector, including the education one, where there's no corruption."
He called upon all to get united to get rid of such an appalling situation in the country.
Commission conducted elections lawfully amid some failures: Nurul Huda
Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Monday said though his commission could not gain the trust of some political parties, they are not embarrassed at all by their performance over the last five year.
“None can earn cent per cent success. We also could not do so,” Huda said at a press conference in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban on the last day of commission’s tenure.
He added, “But we conducted elections lawfully with a complete neutral attitude. There were deviations in some places. Many voters were killed in different places …which were our failures. Now we’ve seen that some political parties are not happy and satisfied with us. We could not gain their trust.”
Also read: Outgoing CEC, election commissioners call on President Hamid
In reply to a question if their performance would embarrass them in the society during their retirement life, Huda said, “Not at all, not at all. We tried our best to arrange elections as per laws and rules.”
“We didn’t have any deficiency in our neutral attitude. We made efforts to hold polls in such ways. So, we don’t have any feeling of embarrassment and weakness,” he said.
Two election commissioners Rafiqul Islam and Kabita Khanam were present at the press conference, while another two commissioners Mahbub Talukder and Brig Gen (Retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury were conspicuous by their absence.
Also read: Junaid Saki files contempt of court case against CEC
Shahadat Hossain could not join the conference as he is infected with Covid-19, and Mahbub Talukder talked separately to reporters later at his office.
BNP ditches upcoming EC formation law
BNP on Thursday turned down the “Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022" passed by parliament, saying it is not acceptable to people.
"We don’t accept the bill on the Election Commission. This bill is not only acceptable to us, but also to the people of the country. No one will abide by the bill as it’s not acceptable to people,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a discussion, he also said the current parliament has no moral rights and jurisdiction to pass such a bill since it was not elected with people’s votes.
Also read: Bangladesh one step away to have a law on EC formation
BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units jointly arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking January 25 as ‘Baksal and black day of annihilating democracy, commemorating the introduction of one-party rule in the country on this day in 1975.
Earlier in the day, parliament passed the Bill by voice votes to ensure a legal framework for selecting the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners
Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the Bill in parliament on January 23 seeking to give a legal shield to the current and previous Election Commissions formed through search committees. It was sent to the respective scrutiny committee for deeper examination.
On Wednesday, chairman of the committee M Shahiduzzaman Sarker placed the committee report with some changes in the original Bill.
Also read: Report on EC formation Bill placed in parliament
Fakhrul alleged that the bill was passed by the parliament very hastily, and warned that it will not help prevent the fall of the current regime.
Recalling that Baksal was formed just in11 minutes in parliament, he said the Bill on the Election Commission (EC) was also passed hurriedly after it had been tabled on January 23 and approved by the cabinet on January 17.
“Awami League introduced Baksal that day as part of their efforts to save themselves. They’ve now enacted the Election Commission law thinking that they will survive through it. But they have forgotten that Baksal couldn’t finally protect them. So, the law on the Election Commission can’t protect them ultimately,” the BNP leader said.
About their party’s position on the next polls, Fakhrul said their party will not join any national election under Sheikh Hasina’s government as they do not want to be caught in the toils of Baksal again.
He said the government must quit and hand over power to a non-party neutral administration which will arrange a credible election by forming the Election Commission in consultations with all political parties. “People’s representatives will be elected through the polls and they will determine how they’ll run the country.”
Report on EC formation Bill placed in parliament
The report on “Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022" was placed in parliament on Wednesday with some changes in eligibility and ineligibility criteria for the appointment of CEC and ECs.Chairman of the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry M Shahiduzzaman Sarker placed the report.The committee changed section 6 (gha) of the Bill where it was mentioned that anyone convicted of a criminal offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to at least two years’ imprisonment would not be eligible for the post of CEC and election commissioners.It removed the two-year term of imprisonment and kept only the term 'imprisonment' saying that one convicted in a criminal offence of moral turpitude for any term shall not be eligible to be appointed as CEC or Election Commissioner.For becoming CEC and EC, one should have at least 20 years of working experience in any important government, judicial, semi-government or private posts.
Read: Law on EC formation just a ‘blueprint’ to prolong power: BNPThe parliamentary committee has recommended bringing an amendment to this section and adding 'autonomous and other professions' besides government, judicial, semi-government or private posts.If the law is passed with this amendment, people from different professional bodies—autonomous and other professions—will be eligible for the post of CEC and ECs.Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the bill in parliament on January 23 seeking to give a legal shield to the current and previous Election Commissions formed through search committees.The bill was later sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the law ministry for scrutiny.Once passed, the law will provide legal cover to all the activities of the search committees.The tenure of the incumbent commission, led by CEC KM Nurul Huda, expires next month.Ahead of the general elections in 2014 and 2018, the president picked CECs and other commissioners in 2012 and 2017 following recommendations by search committees.The government move came nearly 50 years after the constitution prescribed enacting a specific law for forming the EC.The bill says the previous search committees, their functions and the appointments of the CECs and other commissioners made following their recommendations will be deemed valid, and no question can be raised in any court over the matter.It will be considered that the incumbent and previous ECs were constituted as per the law.As per the proposed law, a six-member search committee will be formed following the president's approval for forming the EC."The search committee will recommend the names of candidates for the chief election commissioner and other commissioners to the president…" it said.The Bill gives legal validity to the previous two search committees.
Eligibility
The qualification of CEC and election commissioners, after the recommendation from the Parliamentary Committee, are: They must be Bangladeshi citizens with minimum 50 years of age, and have at least 20 years of work experience in important government, semi-government, private or judicial posts, autonomous and other professions.
IneligibilityIf one is declared ‘insane’ by any court; has not been released from the jail after being declared as ‘bankruptcy’; acquires the citizenship of or affirms the allegiance to, a foreign country surrendering Bangladeshi citizenship; has been convicted for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced imprisonment; convicted by international crime tribunal; and is disqualified for such posts by or under any law, he or she would not be eligible for the post of CEC and election commissioners.
Read: New bill a plot to form another EC with loyal people: BNPA person once held the post of CEC or the Chief Justice, he or she would not be eligible for the post of the CEC. But if a person held the post of election commissioner, he or she might be considered for appointment to the CEC.In order to give legal protection to the constitution of previous election commissions, it would be considered that these were made under this law, the Bill said.
Search Committee A justice of the Appellate Division, nominated by the Chief Justice, will be the head of the six-member search committee.The five other members will be a justice of the High Court Division nominated by the Chief Justice, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, two other eminent personalities nominated by the President.
What Constitution saysThough the Constitution suggests the appointment of the CEC and other election commissioners under a law, the law was not formulated in the past.The Article 118 (1) of the Constitution states, “There shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of 1[the Chief Election Commissioner and not more than four Election Commissioners] and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President.”
Past PracticeIn the past, the President appointed the CEC and commissioners in absence of the law.The last two election commissions, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and KM Nurul Huda, were constituted through search committees formed by the President following his dialogues with political parties.The President picked the CEC and four election commissioners in 2012 and 2017 from the names suggested by the search committees.This time, President Abdul Hamid also held a dialogue with registered political parties to discuss the issues related to the constitution of the Election Commission ahead of the 12th general election to be held at the end of 2023 or the early 2024.The tenure of the incumbent KM Nurul Huda-led election commission expires on February 14.The cabinet approved the draft of appointing CEC and other election commissioners on January 17.
New bill a plot to form another EC with loyal people: BNP
BNP on Monday alleged that the new bill on the formation of the Election Commission (EC) has been formulated to constitute another Commission with people loyal to the government.
“The Prime Minister’s will be reflected on the Election Commission bill to be passed by the government without having elected representatives,” said party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He also said the government has prepared the draft of the Bill to constitute another Election Commission like Huda-Rakib ones. “People’s hopes and aspirations will not be reflected on the new Election Commission.”
Also read: Law on EC formation after dialogue just another ‘joke’: BNP
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage to Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of party founder Ziaur Rahman and current chairperson Khaleda Zia, by placing a wreath at his Banani grave, marking his 7th death anniversary.
Referring to a provision of the draft Bill allowing convicted persons to be the EC members, Rizvi said it means those who have committed atrocities in the last 14 years can be the members of the Commission.
“In fact, the government wants to appoint people loyal it as the EC members. They don't want to appoint any gentlemen,” he observed.
Also read: Filing ‘fictitious’ cases now a regular matter: Fakhrul
The BNP leader alleged that the government hastily placed the Bill in parliament as part of a plot to manipulate the next general election.
He said the government is conspiring to constitute the search committee with the people of its own pockets.
“People who wear Mujib Coats will be there in the search committee of the government. This search committee will also find out the people who wear Mujib Coats,” he observed.
Earlier on Sunday, Law Minister Anisul Haq placed the draft Bill, “Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022”, in parliament and it was sent to the scrutiny committee for further examination.
As per the proposed law, a search committee will be formed taking approval from the President over the constitution of the Election Commission.
The search committee will recommend the names of suitable candidates before the President to appoint the CEC and other election commissioners,” the Bill says.
Rizvi alleged that Arafat Rahman Koko died due to torture by the government.
He urged the country’s people to pray for the members of the Zia family.
About the health condition of Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment in the city’s Evercare Hospital, he said she is still suffering from bleeding. “She's now at the crossroads of life and death for lack of advanced treatment.