Rejecting the appointment of chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners, BNP said yesterday it will not take part in any polls under the newly formed Election Commission (EC) as the entire process of its formation was illegal.
But the ruling Awami League (AL) and its allies said the appointments made by the president through a search committee and in consultation with all political parties must be considered a milestone in the democratic process in the country.
President Zillur Rahman yesterday appointed former parliament secretary Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed as chief election commissioner. Former additional secretary Mohammad Abu Hafiz, former joint secretary Mohammad Abdul Mobarrak, Brig Gen (retd) Md Zabed Ali and former district and sessions judge Mohammad Shahnawaz were made election commissioners.
BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday the appointments are unconstitutional and unlawful as the process of choosing them as well as forming the search committee is illegal.
In his immediate reaction about the new EC at the party's Naya Paltan office, Mirza Fakhrul told journalists, “BNP will not participate in any polls under such unconstitutional and unlawful Election Commission. The people will not accept such commission at all."
He said the government made the president hold dialogue (with political parties) only to justify its unconstitutional move, and its intention was to form an EC of its choice.
Replying to a query, he said formation of the EC is not important to them. “Decision regarding caretaker government has to be taken first to resolve the existing political crisis,” he added.
Contacted, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif welcomed the appointment of CEC and election commissioners. He said it is a milestone in the advancement of democracy and it will contribute a lot to giving the EC an institutional shape since the president took the decision in consultation with all political parties.
Rejecting BNP's demand for a decision to restore the caretaker government system prior to formation of the EC, Hanif said it (EC) has to hold many elections including local government polls.
Hanif, also special assistant to the prime minister, hoped that BNP would extend its support to the new EC for the sake of continuation of the democratic process in the country.
Asked, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said it is a unique achievement that the president appointed the CEC and election commissioners through a search committee for the first time in the country.
He hoped that a law would be enacted to continue this process. His party will cooperate with the new EC to further strengthen democracy, he added.
Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon said the EC has been constituted following discussions with political parties for the first time. “It is a new development in the country's democratic process," he added.