The Election Commission is preparing for the parliamentary elections with ‘two systems’ in mind when the two major political parties are on a collision course over a government that will oversee the balloting.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad spoke of the plan with reporters before leaving office on Thursday.
The Awami League has changed the Constitution to hold the elections under the coalition government that it heads, doing away with the provision of the non-party caretaker government.
The Awami League insists on going by the new constitutional provision, but the opposition BNP is firmly against it, as the amendment was made as recently as 2011 at the behest of the ruling regime.
The opposition is still on the streets demanding an impartial polls-time administration and threatening to boycott the elections if that arrangement is not conceded.
The general election is slated between October this year and January next year.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, however, on Wednesday said that the opposition will accept the outcome of the election, only held by a non-party government, even if the ruling coalition wins it.
The same day, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam also spoke of his belief that the general election will be contested by all parties and it will be free, fair and acceptable without the army being deployed.
Asked about the nature of the election-time government, the CEC on Thursday said, “I have told you earlier that this matter must be politically resolved. Time is running away. The sooner the decision comes, the better.”
But the Election Commission would have to prepare for two systems if the two major political parties fail to reach an understanding soon, he added.
“We are getting ready with two sets of preparation. One for this and one for that…. Setting a course of action very soon will be possible only after getting a decision at the soonest,” Ahmad explained.
When asked whether preparations for two systems would give rise to confusion since the Constitution dictates a partisan government system, Ahmad said, “I’m not saying that. I’m saying that we are ready to hold the elections under any circumstances.”
He further said the Commission will consider dialogues with the political parties ahead of the polls.
Source: Bd news24
