Bangladesh News

A full-day hectic meetings by the advisers finally yielded a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice MA Aziz, with all probability, may either go on leave until the elections are over or resign in a couple of days.
He is likely to go to perform hajj, Aziz hinted to a three-member delegation of advisers who met the CEC with a request from the president to step down to resolve the crisis. He may then resign while on leave, sources said

President/Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed sent Advisers Mahbubul Alam, M Azizul Haque and Advocate Sultana Kamal to the poll chief at 9:50am in a last-ditch attempt to find a way to break the standoff. Through the delegation, the president had asked Aziz to make a swift decision in view of the gravity of the situation.

During the talks with the emissaries, Justice Aziz sought two days’ time to decide on how to respond to the president’s initiative.

An adviser last night hinted that Aziz may even resign sometime today, but his family members said he may go on leave ‘to perform hajj’.

The advisers will meet the Chief Adviser (CA) Iajuddin Ahmed today to decide what will happen to the CEC post once Aziz goes.

Yesterday, the advisers had a hectic day meeting with the CEC and then rushing off to inform the CA about the development before meeting at the council of advisers at night. Iajuddin proposed the name of a former secretary who is thought to be close to the 4-party alliance, sources said. But the advisers said it would create further debate, leading to loss of precious time, and suggested the senior most commissioner in the EC should take over as CEC.

Following the advisers’ council meeting at night, Information Adviser Mahbubul Alam at a news conference said, “We have found a way to resolve the ongoing national problem.”

“We hope we will see results within next 24 to 48 hours,” he added.

Declining to elaborate on the prospective solution, he said the process could be hampered if it is disclosed before implementation.

Mahbubul avoided answering whether the EC will be expanded through appointment of a few more election commissioners or it will be reconstituted in the event of Aziz standing down as CEC.

He indicated that at the moment they are not thinking about any other alternatives. “We believe the solution to the crisis that we are hoping for will be acceptable to all,” he observed.

Replying to another query, he said, “We won’t make any comment on who is responsible for the crisis. It’s a political affair.”

Referring to the fate of the other election commissioners and controversial voter list, he said, “All the thoughts in this regard have already been published in the newspapers. We are considering the overall situation.”

Whether the caretaker government will request the Awami League led 14-party combine to withdraw their blockade, he said if the problem is solved, they themselves will decide what to do with the programme.

At last night’s meeting, the advisers expressed optimism that the CEC will inform the president of his decision today and after that they will sit to discuss the next course of action. Aziz held a meeting with the EC commissioners after the advisers left his office.

Meanwhile, an adviser seeking anonymity told The Daily Star last night that they are in fact awaiting an announcement of resignation from the CEC. “If he does not quit, it won’t be possible to reconstitute the Election Commission,” he added.

About the other election commissioners, the adviser said, “Let’s resolve the problem regarding the CEC first.”

The information adviser said, “Now we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. And we are very happy that our efforts to break the deadlock are going to pay off.”

Earlier in the day, Advocate Sultana Kamal said “The CEC told us that he will inform the president about his decision tomorrow (today).”

In the wake of the latest developments, the council of advisers that has been encountering difficulties to make the EC effective enough to hold a credible election, is hopeful that there might be a positive outcome today. They believe the CEC would agree to give way to someone else, paving the way for reorganisation of the EC.

Once Aziz stands down, President/Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed will appoint a new CEC and the reorganised EC will announce the schedule for the next parliamentary election.

The move came after 20 days since the advisers took the initiative to reconstitute the EC.

The CEC, who had earlier declined to consider the advisory council’s request to step down, yesterday said he would take two days to decide on the next course of action regarding the president’s initiative.

After meeting the CEC, the three advisers rushed to the Bangabhaban to inform Iajuddin of the outcome of the talks. Later, they told journalists that they are quite positive that there might be an end to the crisis in a day or two, as now the CEC himself wants to resolve the standoff.

Without elaborating on exactly what had been proposed to Aziz, Sultana Kamal said the prospective way out falls within the ambit of the constitution and hopefully, it will be acceptable to all.

Adviser M Azizul Haque said, “We cannot set him any time for decision. He [CEC] told us that he would inform the president about his decision in time.”

Following the talks with the presidential delegates, the CEC declined to talk to reporters and so did his deputies who too were present at the meeting.

Aziz, who assumed office on May 23 last year, has been mired deep in controversy for his domineering attitude and remarks. At the beginning of the year, he went on to prepare a fresh voter list in a unilateral move ignoring the High Court directives.

Except BNP and its allies, all major political parties, civil society members, diplomats and donor agencies have been maintaining that a credible election is not possible under supervision of the present EC.

From the outset, the council of advisers has been having difficulty in their efforts to make the EC effective, as the CEC has remained rigid on his stance not to resign.

Finally, an emergency meeting of the advisory council with Iajuddin Ahmed in the chair Sunday night decided to send a presidential delegation to request Aziz to revisit his posture.

The information regarding the president’s move was also conveyed to the two major political parties yesterday.

Earlier on Saturday night, the president said he was ready to appoint two more election commissioners if the political parties seeking reconstitution of the EC agree.