Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda today expressed his hope that BNP will participate in the next national elections.

There is and will be a level playing field for all the political parties in the national polls, so it is hoped that that BNP will participate in the elections, CEC told journalists after a holding a meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban.

The CEC held the meeting with law enforcers regarding the upcoming city corporation polls.

The EC has provided guidelines for holding the Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal city corporation elections in a fair manner at the meeting, the CEC said.

All the necessary guidance have been given so that the city polls do not become questionable ahead of the national polls, the CEC added.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was recently jailed for five years in a graft case, cannot contest the next general election in the present context, the chief election commissioner said today.

But if she moves an appeal before the Supreme Court against her conviction and the court permit her to contest the election, she can run the election, CEC AKM Nurul Huda said.

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BNP continues quiet protest

He was talking to reporters after a courtesy call on Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain at his SC office.

The CEC said he was a lower court judge once upon a time and he feels at this moment that Khaleda cannot contest the election.

He said the SC has two separate verdicts over the issue. One judgment said if anybody is convicted and sentenced to two or more years' in jail by the lower court for moral turpitude, he or she can contest the election until the appeal is not settled by the apex court.

In another judgment, the apex court said a convict cannot contest the election, the CEC said.   

Now, it depends on SC whether she can contest the election, he added.

Khaleda landed in jail on February 8 after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, dealing a severe blow to BNP ahead of the upcoming national elections.

BNP says, the election commission is threatening the party with registration cancellation if it does not participate in the upcoming election.

“Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said BNP will be at stake if it does not participate in the next general election. The CEC is threatening us so that we participate in the lopsided election under Sheikh Hasina,” BNP spokesperson Rizvi Ahmed said.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, the senior joint secretary general alleged that the CEC has become a spokesman for the ruling party.

While talking to reporters in Bogra on Thursday, the CEC said BNP will be at stake if it does not participate in the upcoming general election and expressed hope that the party would participate in the polls.

Rizvi said the CEC's comment exposed that he is putting his best efforts to hold a stage-managed election under Sheikh Hasina administration.

“BNP is least bothered about its political registration with the Election Commission since its position is very strong among people,” Rizvi said.

He also blamed the CEC for serving the ruling party’s purpose and said: "We would like to tell you (CEC); you'll also run a risk, along with the government, if you have any evil plan over BNP's registration.”

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda yesterday said that it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no anomalies in the general election.

Replying to a query on whether there is agreeable atmosphere to hold the national election, especially after allegations of irregularities in the recently-concluded polls in five city corporations, Huda said, “I do not agree with the claim that city corporation elections were not satisfactory. We don't think such irregularities will occur in the national election. We cannot, however, ensure that there will be absolutely no irregularity anywhere in a national-level election.”

“We will investigate and take necessary actions if we receive complaints of anomalies,” he added.

The CEC made the remarks while talking to reporters at the Election Training Institute at Agargaon, Dhaka.

“We always take actions against irregularities that take place in general elections. You have seen us taking extra measures during Barisal city polls, where there were irregularities,” he told reporters.

When asked about Gono Forum President Dr. Kamal Hossain's statement that people do not have any faith in the election commission, the CEC said, “I do not know how Dr Kamal read the thoughts of the entire nation. Did he (Kamal) have any statistics? Did all the people come and tell him to say that? I don't know.”

Saying that the current student movement for safe roads has nothing to do with the national election, the CEC said. “Voting in the national election will take place according to the constitution. We are working on it.”

Huda said that election schedule will be announced in October and the election is likely to be held either at the end of December or beginning of January next year.