The Election Commission (EC) is being restructured following growing demands from political parties, notably the National Citizen Party (NCP).
During the party’s registration submission on June 22, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary reiterated the call: “This EC must be restructured. We are not going for option B.”
Later that day, NCP leaders also met with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.
According to multiple sources, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has already conveyed the restructuring message to the CEC. Following that, the CEC has been absent from office, citing health reasons. EC officials, however, speculate political undertones behind the absence.
After the CEC's meeting with the Chief Adviser last Thursday, many thought that there would be a meeting at the EC on Sunday and there would be a clear discussion on holding the 13th National Parliament election. But that did not happen.
The CEC did not even come to the Election Building. Although other Election Commissioners were in the office. There was curiosity among EC officials and media personnel throughout the day as to why the CEC did not come to the office. Many believe that this is a 'politico-administrative illness'.
When asked about the CEC, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told Bangladesh Pratidin that the CEC is currently undergoing treatment. He wished the CEC a speedy recovery.
Akhtar Ahmed said, “We all hope that the CEC will recover and return to office soon.”
On November 21 last year, President Md Shahabuddin formed a new five-member EC under the leadership of former Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin. The election commissioners in this commission are former district and sessions judge Abdur Rahmanel Machud, former joint secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmed, former additional secretary Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.
The President selected these five as the CEC and Election Commissioner from the list of names proposed by the search committee. The Cabinet Division published their names in a separate notification on Thursday, November 21 last year. Later, on November 24, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin and four Election Commissioners (ECs) took oath.
Nasir Uddin, who was appointed as the country's 14th CEC, was once a secretary. The interim government recently made him a member of the Local Government Reforms Commission. Later, he was given the responsibility of the Election Commission.
The Election Commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal, formed during the previous fascist Awami League government, resigned on September 5 last year after the political situation changed. The 12th parliamentary elections were held under them. The Awami League won the election and came to power for the fourth consecutive time, amidst the boycott of the BNP and like-minded parties. Eight months later, a mass uprising ended the Awami League's 15-year rule.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
