Bangladesh
CEC Election aversion created by you, not by us: CEC tells politicians
Dhaka, Oct 13: Addressing the country's politicians, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said, "Election aversion is created by you, not by us. I was doing a small job, getting paid monthly. What is politics, I did not have such a big thought and capacity in my mind. My knowledge is limited."
A delegation of 18 members of Trinamool BNP held a meeting with the Election Commission on Thursday. They talked openly in the meeting. Besides, the leaders of the party presented 12 recommendations to the Election Commission.
At the same time Trinamool BNP sent a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner. Party chairperson Samsher Mobin Chowdhury, general secretary Taimur Alam Khandkar and Trinamool BNP founder Nazmul Hooda's daughter and party executive chairperson Antara Selima Hooda wrote to the CEC.
Discussing Trinamool BNP's recommendations, the CEC said, "We will have a campaign to take people to the polling booths. But the politics and the candidates who are there will have to go to the voters. We cannot reach as many voters as candidates can. We cannot do what you can do to the voters."
He also said, "I will do as much as possible on our behalf. I will see if the election is fair or not. You see whether the voters are coming or not, no one is obstructing, you are not obstructing, others are not obstructing either. We have stopped this crime that no one can stop. If there is a provision, it will be a criminal offence. So you will come. But we would like to see through TV whether they (voters) are entering or not, but after entering we will not be able to see them. Because you do not have that right. We will see whether voters are coming out of polling stations peacefully. Then a bunch of journalists will interview him. They will jump up and say to the voter - 'Brother or sister, are you able to vote?' If this continues, the vote will be good. Voting will be transparent if the media is used."
Regarding the deployment of the army in the elections, CEC said, "You (Trinamool BNP leaders) talked about the army. In the previous dialogues, each party talked about the army. We have observed that the presence of the army is absolutely desirable. Muscle strength is a strength at ground level."
