EC formation
BNP has no interest in EC formation under AL govt
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party has no interest in the formation of Election Commission through a search committee under the current government.
“We don't have any interest in the EC formation as the electoral system has been completely ruined by the current government,” he said.
Talking to reporters at his residence in the district town, the BNP leader said the Election Commission cannot do anything if there is no polls-time neutral government in place.
He said they earlier boycotted and joined elections under the current government. “We also gave our opinions on the formation of the Election Commission through a search committee. But this government didn’t accept any of our proposals as they arranged everything in line with their plan to hold the election as per their desire.”
Read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
“From our past experience, we now think there must have a caretaker government or a polls-time neutral government to hold a credible national election,” the BNP leader observed.
After the formation of a neutral government, he said it will constitute an acceptable election commission to hold the national election within 90 days.
Fakhrul said their party was against holding the local body polls in a partisan manner from the very beginning.
“If the local body polls are held with the symbols of political parties, it creates a division in society with limited choice for people. That’s why we’ve decided not to join the local body polls with our symbol. But we won’t obstruct if anyone from our party participates in the polls independently,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party welcomed the new political party, ‘Gono Adhikar Parishad’, formed under Dr Reza Kibria and former VP of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur.
“We hope they will play a role in ousting the current fascistic regime and work for the restoration of democracy,” he said.
Fakhrul said they believe people will come forward to bring a change in the government through a strong movement.
As his attention was drawn to the Awami League general secretary’s comment that people do not consider BNP as an alternative to Awami League in power politics, he said, “Obaidul Quader should see his own face and that of his party in the mirror. He should also read the body language of people.”
Read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
The BNP leader said Awami League completely deceived people by ‘usurping’ power through ‘snatching’ ballots the night before the voting day with the help of state machinery and law enforcers.
The BNP leader said the government has been following a ‘mysterious policy over the procurement of Covid vaccines.
“The government could still collect vaccines for the one-eighth of the population, but we need vaccines for 80 percent of the population. We asked them to prepare a roadmap and master plan for collection and distribution of vaccines, but the government did not do it for indulging in corruption,” he alleged.
Fakhrul said the government should intensify its efforts to collect the vaccines from the countries where the jabs are available.
HC turns down writ seeking enactment of law for EC formation
The High Court on Sunday rejected a writ petition seeking its directive to enact a law for the formation of the Election Commission as per Article 118 (1) of the Constitution. A bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah turned down the petition. Advocate Md Yarul Islam appeared for the writ petitioner while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state.
Read: HC orders judicial probe into attacks on Hindus in 6 districts On October 13, the writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directive to enact a law for the formation of the Election Commission as per Article 118 (1) of the Constitution. The writ petition sought the suspension of all activities related to the formation of the Election Commission till the enactment of the law. The writ petition was filed by Advocate Md Yarul Islam, a lawyer of the Supreme Court and secretary general of Bangladesh Congress, a registered political party. The Law Secretary and the Chief Election Commissioner were made respondents to the writ. Advocate Md Yarul Islam said, "It’s possible to formulate a law to form the EC within a week if the government wants. Part VII of the Constitution states what would be the law for the formation of the Election Commission.”
Read:HC summons ACC assistant director over allegation of bribery On October 7, Law Minister Advocate Anisul Huq said the Election Commission will be constituted through a search committee. “It won’t be possible right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic as the tenure of the current EC will expire in February next,” he added.