New Chief Election Commissioner AMM Md Nasir Uddin on Sunday said it would be possible to hold the national election after the necessary reforms are completed, but not before.
“I can’t say a specific day and time when the election will be held. We will start preparations from today... However, an election is not possible without the reforms needed to hold the election,” he said, replying to a question over when the polls might be held.
The CEC made this remark while exchanging views with journalists at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city, immediate after he took the charge as the CEC.
Nasir Uddin said there is disagreement among political parties on whether (Parliament) will be bicameral or remain as it is now. Some political parties want a proportional representation system, while others don’t want so, he said.
“If these issues are not resolved, how will we prepare? The recommendations will come from the Electoral Reform Commission. Then a free and fair election will be held after incorporating recommendations of all,” he added.
The new CEC said their all efforts would be concerted so that a fair, credible election can be held.
“We will devote all our strength to do it. We will do whatever is necessary to present a fair and credible election,” he went on.
Replying to a question over the participation of Awami League and its allies in the next election, he said the issue will be solved through the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Commission. “It is a matter of the nation’s decision. I don’t want to comment now in this regard.”
Nasir Uddin, a former secretary, said the new Election Commission will start working on the recommendations of the reform commission, which would earn consensus among the political parties.
In reply to a question about whether the vote should be held after the reform, he said, “Absolutely. It will happen only after the election-related essential reforms are brought. Otherwise, it is not possible for me to do so.”
When asked what the ‘challenge’ is for the new Election Commission, CEC Nasir said, “There is only one challenge --- (that is) to hold a fair and credible election.”
He said there will be concerted efforts on their part so that a voter can freely cast a vote for a person of his or her choice and ensure such an atmosphere.
"We will do whatever is necessary to do it. And we don't believe in one-sided elections,” he said, adding that the lopsided election is bad for the nation.
Noting that this responsibility as an opportunity for him, the CEC promised to ‘do something for the nation’.
“This is a great opportunity. I have taken this as a great opportunity. You are calling it a challenge, but I am taking it as an opportunity. At the end of my life, we have got an opportunity to do something for the nation,” he said.
Earlier at 1:30pm, he and four others took oath as the CEC and election commissioners respectively.
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed administered the swearing-in ceremony at the judges’ lounge of the Supreme Court.
The four election commissioners are former additional secretary Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, former district and sessions judge Abdur Rahman Masud, former joint secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmad and Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah.
