Incumbent EC docile, incompetent, say 18-party leaders
Though the BNP-led 18-partty opposition camp is now pushing for the reinstatement of the non-party caretaker government system, the alliance will turn its focus onto the “subservient” Election Commission (EC) for its reconstitution once the caretaker issue is settled.
The alliance leaders said as part of their movement strategy they are now on the streets only with their demand for restoration of the caretaker government system as they believe if the election is held under a party government no commission will be able to act freely and ensure fair polls.
If a non-party caretaker government is formed, the alliance thinks, it will be then easier for them to convince the neutral administration to reconstitute the EC as it says fair election is not possible by any “controversial” commission.
“Right now we’re not giving importance to the Election Commission issue as our main concern is to realise our key demand for arranging the general election under a non-party neutral administration. If there’s no non-party government, no commission can hold free polls,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told UNB.
The BNP spokesman said the incumbent EC is not capable of holding a free and fair national election as it unusually biased and loyal to the present government.
“The current commission can’t rise above the party interest. From the very beginning, we’ve been opposing its formation process as the government didn’t follow the due procure for the constitution of the commission. The commission through its controversial activities and moves has proved that they can’t work independently and impartially. People’s confidence in it has eroded sharply. So, we think a free parliament election is in no way possible under it,” he added.
Asked why they are not vocal against the Commission, Fakhrul said, “It’s our movement strategy. When our main demand will be fulfilled, then we’ll focus on it and come up with a demand for its reformation to ensure credible and neutral polls.”
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on various occasions was also critical of the incumbent Election Commission and demanded its reconstitution, terming it “worthless” and “spineless”.
Exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community marking Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, at her Gulshan office on Thursday night, Khaleda alleged that the current EC has been completely politicised. “We won’t get justice from them. I think this commission has turned into a spineless and subservient institution and it has no capacity to hold a fair and imperial election.”
Talking to UNB, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said there is no reason to think they will accept the current ‘controversial and biased’ commission to hold the next polls though they are now not seriously raising their voice against it.
“Our basic demand is for arranging the next election under a non-party administration. If this demand is not met we won’t go to polls. So, there’s no point now to place a demand for reformation of the EC if the election is not held under a non-party government,” he said.
Mosharraf, also a former minister, said the present commission is subservient to the government. “If we ask the government to reconstitute their docile commission they won’t accept it. So, now we don’t want to cry in the wilderness.”
Mentioning that there are examples in Bangladesh of reconstituting the EC by caretaker government, the BNP leader said if a caretaker government is formed to oversee the polls this time, it will surely reform this commission as people have no confidence in the incumbent “worthless, spineless and dysfunctional commission”.
He, however, said as the Election Commission has a vital role in ensuring fair polls, it will be their main demand for the reconstitution of the EC to make it credible and strong when a non-party government will be formed.”
Another BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Raman said the 18-party opposition alliance will neither go to polls under the current regime nor the incumbent EC. “Reformation of the incumbent Election Commission is a must for ensuring a free election. It’ll be our key demand when the caretaker issue is settled.”
“The current Election Commission can’t prove it as an effective body. It has lost its neutrality and credibility due to its controversial and politically-motivated activities, including the move to amend the RPO and give registration to a baseless party BNF. It’s fully controlled by an invisible power (govt),” he added.
Mostafizur Rahman Iran, president of Bangladesh Labour Party, one of the partners of the 18-party alliance, said the 18-party will shift its focus on reformation of the EC once the caretaker government demand is realised.
Source: UNB Connect
