EC will be able to influence poll-time govt: CEC hopes

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said the Election Commission will be able to influence the poll-time government at the next parliamentary election to some extent, and is hopeful of getting enough cooperation from it.  

"If the government does not help the commission, the election will be questionable," the CEC said at a dialogue with the Bangladesh Muslim League at the Election Commission on Monday.

Kazi Habibul Awal said the Election Commission (EC) will seek the cooperation of the government as per law.

"Although I am in command of the powers vested in the commission, the execution of those powers is in the hands of the law enforcers, notably the police, BGB and army," he said, adding that it has to be ensured that the law enforcers respond to the directives of the EC.

Former election commissioner Brigadier General Sakhawat Hossain also agrees that the Constitution confers enough powers on the EC, which has jurisdiction over all executive offices at the time of national elections. But, sounding a caveat, he said that the exercise of such authority will be challenging.

"During the national election, power at the grassroots level actually rests in the hands of the returning officers, presiding officers and law enforcers. It is difficult to say how much they will listen to the EC if the parliamentary election is held under a political government," he noted.

The former election commissioner also stated that a lot of things depend on the sincerity of the government, and only time will reveal how sincere the government is about holding a fair national election.

Eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik said those who were in-charge of the previous commissions did not seem to have the will to utilise the executive machinery during the election.

"This commission so far seems to have that intention, but previous experience suggests it is very difficult to hold a fair election on the watch of a ruling party," he commented.

"We have seen several local elections where ruling party candidates won by huge margins. The scenario at the upcoming national polls can somewhat be predicted in light of this experience."

Shahdeen Malik said the Awami League and the BNP need to arrive at a political compromise first for a free and fair national election. Without such a consensus, it is not possible for the EC alone to accomplish much.

At Monday's dialogue, the CEC too said that major issues could be resolved through political negotiations.

He said conducting national elections will not be an easy task. But the commission will have to take up the challenge and successfully handle it.

To the political parties, the CEC said, "If you take the initiative collectively, we will try to cooperate by using the powers conferred on us."

The CEC also suggested that the political parties jettison the mindset of a desperate need for victory at elections.

Some 39 registered political parties have been invited to the ongoing dialogue with the EC ahead of the 12th parliamentary elections. But six parties have boycotted the talks.