In a reply to the BNP’s recent comments that the Election Commission should apologise to the nation for failing to ensure a peaceful election, Election Commissioner Abdul Mobarak yesterday said political leaders did not have the right to make negative comments on the commissioners.
“We are the citizens of Bangladesh, so are these political leaders. They do not have the right to speak ill of the election commissioners throughout the year,” Mobarak, who is now acting as the chief election commissioner, told reporters at a press conference in the capital.
He said the incidents of violence were fewer in the fifth phase of upazila elections compared to the last four phases and the commission had not received any report of a person being killed in these incidents.
The commissioner categorically said the fifth phase upazila polls were held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
“If there was any lacking or if anyone was deprived, the person should appeal to the election tribunal,” he said.
In the fifth phase, voting was stopped at 19 polling centres in five upazilas due to poll-related violence.
Referring to some media reports which quoted election commissioners uttering the name of Allah repeatedly, Mobarak said: “I have full faith in Allah. We will continue our prayers. First of all, I am a Muslim, then a Bangalee, and then a freedom fighter and a non-communal person.”
Regarding the influence of major political parties in the non-partisan local body polls, he said naturally the local body election was to be held in a non-partisan way, but in reality, major parties had openly backed candidates.
Mobarak added that according to the laws, parliamentary elections were based on political parties but there were such laws in the upazila parishad elections.