BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that a case should be filed against the current Election Commission (EC) for destroying the electoral system in Bangladesh. He made the remarks while exchanging views at his residence in Kalibari area of Thakurgaon town at 3.15 pm on Friday.
The term of the current Election Commission is coming to an end on February 14. In response to a question on how to evaluate their responsibilities during this term, Mirza Fakhrul said that the current Election Commission has failed miserably. They should be prosecuted and tried for destroying the electoral system of Bangladesh.
Asked if there was a plan to file a case against the commission, Fakhrul said, “I will think about it.” He paused and said, ‘There is no benefit in filing a case. Because the judiciary cannot function independently now.
Regarding the EC formation process, the BNP secretary general said, “We have no interest in forming a search committee to form the EC.” Because, these have no value. These are meaningless. He has been made the head of the search committee (Justice Obaidul Hasan), his father was a member of the Constituent Assembly nominated by the Awami League. His younger brother was the private secretary to the prime minister. Another member of the committee wanted the nomination of Awami League in 2016. They have no reason to expect neutrality.
Asked what the BNP thinks about participating in the next national elections, Mirza Fakhrul said, “If there is a current government, the question of participating in the elections cannot arise.” The national elections of 2014 and 2016 and the local government elections were held. None were selected. As long as the Awami League is in power, they will hold the Election Commission. They will try to hold elections like them.
Mirza Fakhrul said there were shootings in the ongoing local government elections. Hundreds have been killed. This too was not an election. People and political parties have lost confidence in the electoral system. So the Election Commission and the Search Committee are not an issue here. The issue is which government will be in power during the election? If there is a party government, especially if there is an Awami League government, then there will never be free, fair and acceptable elections.
Criticizing the Awami League, Mirza Fakhrul said that the will of the Awami League is to stay in power for the rest of its life by controlling the electoral system. The government has to resign. A neutral government must be formed. Elections must be held under a neutral EC under a neutral government. Only then will this problem be solved. If the Election Commission is formed ignoring the views of all parties, the people of the country will never accept it. Because, the people of Bangladesh have struggled, fought and repeatedly brought back their democratic rights. People have given their lives for this right.
Thakurgaon district BNP president Taimur Rahman, vice president Abu Taher, Nur E Shahadat, Yunus Ali, joint general secretary Paygam Ali, Ansarul Haque, district Chhatra Dal president Md. Leaders and activists of various BNP affiliated organizations including Kayes were present.