Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said, we want to be above criticism and controversy by conducting free and acceptable elections from neutral.
He said, ‘Since 1970, we have been watching elections. We know the election of 1954. The elections of 2008, 2014 and 2018 are recent in a sense. The President and the Prime Minister were elected in the presidential election system. Elections are probably being held in parliamentary system since 1991. Many past elections have been criticized or debated in the political sphere. Criticism of Election Commission is also intense and bitter. We want to be above criticism and controversy by conducting free and acceptable elections from neutral.’ He said these things in a dialogue with the Awami League today at the Agargaon election building in the capital. At that time, the Chief Election Commissioner, other election commissioners and other officials of the Election Commission were present.
On the other hand, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader was led by Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafar Ullah, Dr. Md. Abdur Razzaq, Lt. Col. (retd.) Muhammad Farooq Khan, Muhammad Sahabuddin Chuppu, Dr. Hashan Mahmud, Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, Dr. Salim Mahmud, Barrister Biplab Barua and Begum Shamsun Nahar.
The CEC said it is the constitutional and statutory responsibility of the commission to conduct free and fair elections. Similarly, it is the constitutional and statutory duty of the Government to assist the Commission. We organized the dialogue out of that responsibility.
Qazi Habibul Awal said, I organized the dialogue in about four-five episodes. Sudheejans presented their views. Opinions about money power, influence of muscle power in elections, violence, vote rigging, encroachment of centers, looting of ballot papers and stuffing of boxes, obstruction of polling stations, favoritism of bureaucracy, role of members of law and order forces, indifference of Election Commission have been raised.He said, ‘We will sincerely try to make the election free and acceptable. This dialogue will be of special importance. Awami League is the biggest party in the country. Bigger teams have higher expectations. In the government three times in a row. That is why the common people call Awami League the government party or the ruling party. But there is no mention of government party or ruling party in the constitution. If I am not mistaken, Awami League is a political party like ten other parties. Government is a constitutional state organization. This is a two-dimensionality of location. The desire, goodwill and sentiments of the Commission will be communicated to the Government and all of your party.’
The CEC said that the Election Commission will fulfill its duties in accordance with the laws and regulations in accordance with the constitution in the twelfth national parliament election which is participatory, free, impartial and guaranteed to exercise voting rights. We hope that everyone will support the commission and wish the parties responsible behavior for the success of the National Assembly elections.
He said, ‘Some issues have come up in the dialogue. Many parties think that it is not right to hold elections in one day. Should be on separate days like in India. Inadequate law enforcement was cited as the reason. Many said to deploy the army. They think that people have a lot of trust in the army. We have not taken any decision.’
