Bangladesh News

Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Mahfuzur Rahman yesterday said he personally knows some 14-party men who lead political parties that comprise only themselves, and just have some tables.

Assuming charge as the acting CEC, Justice Mahfuz made this remark while talking to newsmen about the number of political parties and dialogue with them before announcement of the schedule for the next general election.

“It is not my cup of tea who will accept me or not as acting CEC. I will keep on doing my duties for holding a free and fair election,” he said responding to a query whether the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party combine will accept him.

On July 26 last year, during the dialogue between the Election Commission (EC) and political parties on preparation of voter list, CEC MA Aziz made a remark on the AL league that triggered severe criticism. ” How many seats do they [AL] have in parliament?” Aziz asked while replying to a question on the outcome of the dialogue without participation of the AL.

Justice Mahfuz, who will lead the EC to conduct the next election scheduled for January, rejected outright any possibility of dialogue with political parties seeking their views on the polls schedule.

The acting CEC said election schedule will be announced this month, meaning next week. “We have all preparations for holding the election in time.”

In reply to a question, he said, “I don’t see any obstacle to holding the next election.”

He sought cooperation from all and said all measures will be taken to ensure free and fair polls.

In past, the EC used to hold meetings with caretaker government and political parties before announcing polls schedule. And this time also the EC had planned to hold a meeting with the interim government but the acting CEC yesterday rejected any possibility of such a meeting.

“We will conduct the election, the caretaker government will not. The caretaker government is constitutionally obliged to cooperate with us in conducting the election. But some advisers to it are now speaking in such a way as if they will conduct the election,” Justice Mahfuz said.