Kazi Habibul Awal

File photo CEC Kazi Habibul Awal

CEC Kazi Habibul Awal apologizes

On Tuesday (July 19) afternoon, after the dialogue with the Islami Oikya Jote, he apologized when the issue of swords and rifles came up. He said that he said that as a joke. Meanwhile, the CEC became emotional that time.

Habibul Awal said to the political parties, "You will be in the field. You, the candidates will control the field. I sincerely desire your cooperation and support."

Referring to the issue of financial power and muscle power in the election, CEC said, "A confusion has arisen. I said the day before yesterday, if someone comes with a sword, you stand with a rifle. You must understand that a Chief Election Commissioner can never mean that. I may be undereducated. Even a less educated person cannot say such things. A gentleman by the name of Bobby Hajjaz, I laughed at his words, if someone stands with a sword, you stand with a gun. This is hearsay, a Chief Election Commissioner can never mean it. And if I did, I would have told everyone to collect weapons from day one, 'you collect weapons and strengthen yourself'. But I never said this. We often say a word in English, humour, that is, a joke."

He said, it has been preached at the national level as an irrefutable true divine message. I respect the media very much. I have given free access to the media. We didn't do anything. Both our words and images get there (media). Why did our journalists do it, understand or not? My respect for them remains intact. By doing this, my dignity has been completely undermined.

On Sunday (July 17), the first day of the meeting with the political parties, he advised to 'stand with the rifle against the sword' during the dialogue with the Nationalist Democratic Party (NDM), but that afternoon in the dialogue with the Bangladesh Congress, he advised 'not to fight with the sword and rifle'.