The nation is waiting for a peaceful end to the current political impasse over the election-time government, election commissioner Abu Hafiz said here on Saturday. He added that the Election Commission (EC) will reschedule the election dates, only if it gets confirmed news about the issue. “We are hopeful that we’ll be able to see an end to the political impasse, but we have not got any concrete information or assurance from the major political parties, over such a political consensus. So, if we are to reschedule the election dates, we first need confirmed information. Otherwise, why should we change the schedule that has already been announced?” Hafiz asked.
Hafiz made these comments while talking to this correspondent, in his office. “Everything will depend on the situation, we can’t say anything now,” Abu Hafiz added.
He also said that the commission will not take any decision whether the posts of advisers, mayors of municipalities, and upazila chairpersons, are offices of profit or not. “If anyone feels that the field is uneven for him/her, s/he can go for legal action,” he said.
The EC has not yet reached a decision on whether the offices of the mayors and upazila chairpersons are profitable ones or not, though this is a prerequisite for implementing the election rule for a returning officer (RO), to ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
A senior official of the EC told The Independent that the commission is trying to skirt the issue, which is a crucial one, and has failed to reach any conclusion. It is trying to pass the buck on to the candidates, he claimed. “If such an office is announced as one of profit, then the candidate has to resign from the post, before filing the nomination papers as per the Representation of People Order (RPO).
-With The Independent input
