Elections: EC to ensure participation of all parties

The new Election Commission yesterday discussed how to create an atmosphere conducive to all-party participation in polls -- both at local and national levels. 

In that effort, it directed senior election officials to take all measures for holding the upcoming polls to local bodies in a fair manner.

The directive came when newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and four commissioners sat with senior election officials for the first time at the EC secretariat in the capital, said sources who were at the meeting.

“The new CEC and other commissioners have given us a message that they will work for gaining trust of all stakeholders and political parties,” said EC's Additional Secretary Moklesur Rahman.

A series of elections will be held in the coming weeks, including tomorrow's municipal election in the hill district Rangamati's Baghaichhari.

Moreover, by-elections for chairman and vice-chairman posts in 11 upazilas, by-polls in four municipalities and elections in three more upazilas are due on March 6.

“They [CEC and election commissioners] have asked us to be strict against any irregularities and violence in the forthcoming local polls,” EC's Secretary Muhammad Abdullah told The Daily Star.

Parliamentary by-polls in Gaibandha-1 constituency will be held on March 22. The by-election in Sunamganj-2 constituency that fell vacant after the death of Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta and Comilla City Corporation elections will take place soon too.

More importantly, the incumbent commission will oversee the 2019 national elections.

It took the local polls seriously, which was reflected when an election commissioner promptly left Dhaka for Rangamati to monitor the overall election atmosphere in Baghaichhari municipality, Abdullah said last evening.

Earlier, talking to The Daily Star, experts and officials concerned expressed their view that this job is a litmus test for the new EC that would like to win public trust through holding free and fair polls.

The new CEC and four other commissioners yesterday began their day by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar.

“Our tasks are really challenging. We will work with sincerity and continue our efforts to perform duties successfully,” Huda told journalists there.

President Abdul Hamid on February 6 appointed the CEC and election commissioners -- Mahbub Talukder, Md Rafiqul Islam, Begum Kabita Khanam and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury -- for the next five years. They were sworn in on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, sources at the Bangabhaban and the EC secretariat said they may hold a courtesy call on President Hamid on February 19 or 20.