Apparently irked by the move of the election commission (EC) to amend the Representation of People Order (RPO) at the fag end of the government’s tenure, the major
political parties, except the ruling Awami League, now feel that the present EC has lost its acceptability and election under this EC would not be free and fair.
The main opposition BNP, and its allies in the 18 party alliance, Jatiya Party, the largest ally of the ruling Awami League in the grand alliance government, and Bikalpadhara led by former president Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury have made it clear that the election under this EC would not be free and fair.
BNP chairperson has categorically said, the EC is partisan, and election under it would not be free and fair. BNP leaders later also alleged that the EC along with the government were hatching conspiracy to split the party by according registration to BNF formed by former BNP minister Barrister Nazmul Huda.
In a recent development, HM Ershad, chairman of Jatiya Party, blasted the EC on Saturday saying Jatiya Party would not participate in the next national election under it as nobody has any faith in the incumbent Election Commission (EC).
Hours after his announcement, another former president and President of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on Sunday alleged that the recent statement of the Election Commission (EC) proved that it has been politicised.
“The next elections under the present government will be one sided as the EC has become politicized he said while addressing an iftar mehfil at Kafrul in the city.
The former President said the Prime Minister wants to hold the next election under the supervision of the present government so that she and her 20 ministers could avail of government privileges during the polls, Chowdhury said.
“The government has been trying to politicise the administration totally to meet its political ends,” he added.
On Saturday, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad said, “The incumbent EC has no acceptability to anybody. We cannot participate in any poll including the next general elections, under it,”.
“We will not participate in any kind of fixed election. We want a national poll with the participation of all parties. EC should be totally neutral for holding a neutral poll. EC must rise above all controversies,” he told an ifter party organized by the Chittagong Unit of Jatiya Party at Chittagong Club.
The Jatiya Party chief said the Election Commission has to regain the faith of all political parties of the country for holding a free, fair and neutral election under it.
BNP also termed the Election Commission’s move to amend the Representation of People Order (RPO) “illegal” and “ill-motivated.”
BNP Standing Committee member MK Anwar made this accusation at a press meet at the party’s Nayapaltan office on Wednesday.
“The main opposition and other parties of the country will not accept the EC’s move to exclude article 91(E) from the RPO,” he said.
“People will demand a non-party election commission in the future, in the same way they are doing now in respect of caretaker government system, if the government brings changes to the RPO.”
-With The Independent input
