Election rules won't be finalized without dialogue with BNP: CEC
Saturday, 23 February 2008
CHITTAGONG, Feb 22 (UNB): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda Friday said the Election Commission (EC) is absolutely neutral and there is no reason to deviate from it by favouring any particular party.
"The two factions of BNP are locked in an in-fighting and the EC has nothing to do with it. They either should solve the problems by themselves or wait for the High Court verdict (in this regard)," he said.
The CEC was talking to the media after seeing the progress of the voter identity card work in two centres of Patia Upazila under Chittagong-12 constituency.
Asked why the two factions of BNP are not being invited to join the government-sponsored dialogue on electoral reforms, he said if the two groups were called it would tantamount to doing a favour to BNP.
"If we do that then what about the four factions of Jatiya Party, five of Islami Okiya Jote (IOJ) and two groups of Workers Party?" he asked.
He said EC does not want to lose its neutrality by doing favour to BNP, but the election rules would not be finalised without dialogue with the party.
The CEC further said: "We won't talk to any party except the mainstream one whether it is big or small. The mainstream of BNP will be determined by the High court verdict. We'll have to wait until then."
CEC Huda said the draft voter list would be published by June 30 next and the election would be held by December this year as per the roadmap, "even earlier if possible."
He said the EC would be decentralised and its offices would be set up at Upazila-level with sufficient manpower.
Huda mentioned that there is no problem in voter registration here and it is going on in the Chittagong Hill Tracts too.
Divisional Deputy Election Commissioner Ejharul Haq and District Election Officer Dulal Talukder accompanied the CEC during his visit.
"The two factions of BNP are locked in an in-fighting and the EC has nothing to do with it. They either should solve the problems by themselves or wait for the High Court verdict (in this regard)," he said.
The CEC was talking to the media after seeing the progress of the voter identity card work in two centres of Patia Upazila under Chittagong-12 constituency.
Asked why the two factions of BNP are not being invited to join the government-sponsored dialogue on electoral reforms, he said if the two groups were called it would tantamount to doing a favour to BNP.
"If we do that then what about the four factions of Jatiya Party, five of Islami Okiya Jote (IOJ) and two groups of Workers Party?" he asked.
He said EC does not want to lose its neutrality by doing favour to BNP, but the election rules would not be finalised without dialogue with the party.
The CEC further said: "We won't talk to any party except the mainstream one whether it is big or small. The mainstream of BNP will be determined by the High court verdict. We'll have to wait until then."
CEC Huda said the draft voter list would be published by June 30 next and the election would be held by December this year as per the roadmap, "even earlier if possible."
He said the EC would be decentralised and its offices would be set up at Upazila-level with sufficient manpower.
Huda mentioned that there is no problem in voter registration here and it is going on in the Chittagong Hill Tracts too.
Divisional Deputy Election Commissioner Ejharul Haq and District Election Officer Dulal Talukder accompanied the CEC during his visit.