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Download PDF The Awami League (AL) yesterday asked the Election Commission (EC) to defer the election date by 46 days wasted by “one person” while the BNP suggested shifting the date forward by a day or two because of Saraswati Puja.
The AL advised the EC to go to the Supreme Court for seeking the additional time beyond the 90-day constitutional confines.
EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar, however, said there is little scope to hold the election beyond the constitution stipulated time of 90 days for the caretaker government even if all political parties reach a consensus in this regard.
Two delegations of the AL and BNP sat with the EC yesterday and placed their suggestions and demands.
Both the BNP and AL urged the EC to extend the time for the ongoing task of correcting the updated voter list.
The AL delegation suggested 15 days more for the task while the BNP team did not mention any specific time for this.
“A free and acceptable election is not possible within January 23 as the congenial environment necessary for the polls has not yet been created,” AL advisory council member Mokammel Haq told journalists.
“The constitution is not the Quran that it cannot be changed,” he said after heading an AL delegation at the hour-long meeting with the EC secretary. “The caretaker government can request the EC for shifting the poll date and the EC can apply to the Supreme Court to seek the deferment,” he added.
When he was reminded of the constitutional obligation to hold the election within 90 days, Mokammel said, “The Supreme Court can provide the caretaker government with the additional time for holding the polls if the Election Commission appeals for it.”
Asked who is responsible for wasting the time, he said, “No political parties are responsible for wasting the 46 days. Everyone knows who is responsible for this.”
Hinting at President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed, Mokammel said, “We have lost around 46 days because of the dilly-dallying of one person…It is the same person whose unilateral activities caused four advisers to resign from the caretaker government.”
Mokammel said the EC secretary assured them of placing their demand before the EC.
Mokammel, however, said a consensus between all political parties is necessary for delaying the holding of the election.
At their meeting with the EC secretary, a four-member BNP delegation led by Mofazzal Karim, adviser to the BNP chairperson, stressed the need for shifting the poll date by one or two days forward.
On EC reconstitution, Mofazzal told reporters, “We do not think any of the EC commissioners needs to go on leave. Their experience should be utilised.”
EC SECRETARY BRIEFING
EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar said, “The EC has no scope to violate the constitution and hold the election after January 25 [the date on which the 90-day tenure of the caretaker government expires].
“What would happen if any citizen files a case against the delay?” Sarkar said while talking to reporters after the meeting with the BNP delegation.
The EC secretary said he believes an environment for holding election is prevailing in the country at present.
On shifting the poll date because of Saraswati Puja, he said, “We need to discuss this with the political parties. If we get the green signal from the two major political parties, we will decide on it.”
On extending the time for correcting the voter list, Sarkar said the EC will discuss the matter.
Meanwhile, the EC signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today with the European Union (EU) on sending an EU election observer team.
“The EC has already approved the MoU,” Sarkar told newsmen.
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