Bangladesh News

The caretaker government plans to bring some reforms in the Election Commission (EC) in a couple of days as it believes the upcoming election will not get legitimacy if any major political party opts out of it.

Advisers to the interim government also differed with the immediate past law minister’s observation that resignation of the present election commissioners would lead to a constitutional crisis.

“We wanted to take some decisions regarding reforms earlier but we failed. Hopefully, you will see a decision in a day or two,” Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, adviser for power, energy and food ministries, told reporters yesterday.

Akbar Ali Khan, adviser in charge of the finance and planning ministries, told reporters the same day that the election will be incomplete without participation of major political parties. At the same time, there will be questions both at home and abroad about its legitimacy.

“It takes a huge sum of money to hold a national election. So, we must think carefully about the financial aspect of the election when its legitimacy might be at stake,” he said adding, “We want to conduct a fair and acceptable election so that the next government can complete the five-year term.”

Referring to the last two general elections under the caretaker government, Akbar said the governments elected though those elections could complete their terms because the polls were free and fair.

Replying to a query about reforms in the EC, he said the advisers have been informally consulting the legal experts about a possible way out of the EC crisis. And quite naturally, the stress is on working out a solution that would be acceptable to all especially the two major political parties, he added.

Asked about Moudud Ahmed’s claim that a constitutional crisis might follow if the election commissioners resign, Akbar Ali Khan said if quick steps are taken it is still possible to reconstitute the EC as per the constitution.

“They (election commissioners) have not resigned yet. I don’t see any reason for a constitutional crisis to arise even if they stand down,” Akbar, a former cabinet secretary, observed adding that what to do if election commissioners resign are laid out in the constitution.

He however emphasised on an early resolution of the present dispute centring the EC.

Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, another adviser, yesterday told journalists that they are pondering alternative options to restore political parties’ confidence in the EC.

“It is high time that we take decisions on reforms in the Election Commission. We have lost much time but it’s still possible to do things necessary to ensure everyone’s participation in the election,” observed Chowdhury.

Mentioning the adviser council’s request to the CEC for resignation, he said, “We are continuing our efforts and I think we still have time to reform the Election Commission.”