Executing some reform commission recommendations will curtail EC’s freedom: CEC

The freedom of the Election Commission (EC) will be reduced if some of the recommendations made by the Electoral Reform Commission are implemented, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today (26 January).

Addressing a discussion at the Media Centre of the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon this morning, he questioned many of the 150 recommendations of the reform commission in 18 areas made recently after it started working four months ago.

Some of the recommendations are giving the parliamentary standing committee the authority to hold the EC accountable, establishing a separate authority for constituency delimitation, and creating voter list under an independent authority.

"Some of the recommendations are contrary to the EC's ability to perform its duties independently. Implementing these recommendations would undermine the EC's independence as a constitutional institution," said the CEC.

He stated that if any of the EC's functions are handed over to the parliamentary standing committee, it would undermine the commission's independence. "We do not want to be dependent on the standing committee. Such recommendations must be cancelled."

"It's easy to make recommendations, but implementing them is challenging," he added.

Expressing disagreement with the recommendation to remove the EC's authority over constituency delimitation, the CEC remarked, "This falls under the EC's jurisdiction."

"If we become reliant on the parliamentary standing committee, the EC's authority will be diminished. Any interference outside the EC regarding voter list updates and constituency delimitation is completely unacceptable," he added.

He said only the parties that will remain registered after the announcement of the schedule will be able to contest the next national election.

Asked whether the Awami League would be able to participate in the elections, the CEC reiterated that it will depend on whether the party retains its registration until then.

"However, the Awami League issue is not under the jurisdiction of the EC; rather, the decision will be made politically based on a national consensus," he added.

Election schedule issue

He said the chief adviser has talked about two potential timelines for the national polls: December 2025 following minimal reforms or June 2026 following extensive reforms.

May-June is the monsoon season, making it historically unsuitable for elections, he said, adding that the election schedule must be announced 1.5 or two months in advance.

"That means preparations must be completed by October. If the election is to be held in December, legal frameworks, rules, and provisions must be finalised promptly to ensure that all preparations are done by October," he said.

"It will be a challenge for the EC if more time is needed for reform," Nasir stressed while speaking at the discussion organised by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED).

Terming local government elections as the government's responsibility instead of the EC, he said it will take almost a year to arrange these local polls.

"We will not be able to hold the general election held within the timeframe given by the chief adviser if we have to hold the local elections first," the CEC added.

The EC wants to rely fully on the law enforcement agencies to arrange national elections, he said. "The country's people themselves will thwart all irregularities. We will use BNCC (Bangladesh National Cadet Corps) if needed."

"Electoral Reform Commission has recommended making the EC independent. We are already independent, so what is there to make independent again? Such a proposal is unnecessary," said CEC Nasir.

"The circumstances in which we took up our duties did not have the field ready for us. The field is still not ready," he added.

"Fifteen reform commissions are still working. Hence, we have not yet been able to set the rules of the game. If we can't set the rules, how can we expedite the organisation of elections?" he asked.

RFED President Akramul Hoque Sayem chaired the discussion while General Secretary Md Humayun Kabir moderated it.