National Citizens' Committee rejects new Election Commission

The National Citizens' Committee has rejected the new Election Commission (EC) stating it was formed under the law enacted by the ousted Awami League government. 

"The interim government was forced to form the EC by bowing to pressure from political parties. This is tantamount to betrayal of the spirit of the July-August mass uprising," the committee members made the statement at a press conference, protesting the formation of EC before ensuring electoral reforms. 

The conference was held today (24 November) at the organisation's central office at Rupayan Trade Center in Banglamotor in the capital.

Earlier today, the newly appointed chief election commissioner (CEC) and four other election commissioners took the oath of office for the next five years.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed administered the oath to CEC AMM Nasir Uddin and the four commissioners.

Stating that the previous government has left the country in a dire state with one-sided polls, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin has said he does not want any more such forced elections.

"The date of the election will be fixed after necessary electoral reforms," he also said.

The new commission has been constituted based on the recommendation of a six-member search committee, which the interim government formed on 29 October. The committee later recommended the names of qualified individuals for the positions of the CEC and other commissioners.

At the press conference, the committee's spokesperson Samantha Sharmin read out a written statement saying, "In 2022, the fascist Awami League government enacted the 'Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Act 2022'. This was rejected by the BNP and other political parties at the time. 

"We were surprised to see the interim government formed a search committee to form an Election Commission under that law. However, it would have been reasonable to repeal that law after the July-August student-led mass uprising."

The statement also said the government has formed a committee to reform the electoral system. 

"Their job is to submit an overall proposal on the election system to the government by 31 December. The commission led by Badiul Alam Majumder has not started working for less than two months. Their first task is to decide the method of forming the EC. Before they made any proposal, the government had already formed the search committee to form the EC."

The committee mentioned that the Electoral Reform Commission is also in favour of changing the law and has already prepared a draft of a new law, which is in the process of being sent to the government. 

"Elections cannot be rushed under pressure from political parties. If this government leaves power after a year or more without completing the desired reforms, it will be accused of completing the work of a caretaker government in more than three months, which will also question the legitimacy of the government," the committee said in the statement.

"Without institutional reforms, we will not move towards organising elections in a hurry, this is our demand. Dr Yunus and his government must remember that so many martyrs did not give their lives to hold elections within the legal framework of a fascist and illegal constitution. Moreover, the intentions behind the mass uprising was not limited to elections. If all kinds of reform measures are not taken to abolish the fascist state system, the goal of the uprising will not be achieved and that would be a betrayal towards the martyrs," the committee said.

National Citizens' Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwari, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Member Sarwar Tushar, among others, spoke at the press conference.