The Election Commission is confused as to whether or not Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement about keeping the cabinet and parliament operational during the next general elections was the final position of the government.
The commission is also waiting for a consensus among the political parties regarding the polls.
“The prime minister said the election will be held with Parliament remaining in effect. Is this final? We do not know if this is her final decision,” Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz told reporters on Wednesday at the EC Secretariat.
He also said it was still ‘unclear’ if the election in the end would be held without the dissolution of parliament.
“At the end, it will be the political situation that will decide the outcome. We do not know what will happen if parliament remains or is dissolved.”
However, Hafiz said: “If it is the final position of the government, we have to make preparations accordingly.”
He said the commission was also confused about the formation of the polls-time government and the method of the parliamentary elections.
“Level playing field for all the participants has yet not been created. We will have to wait until the time of the election to take legal measures regarding the issue.”
The EC was now making general preparations based on the directives of the prime minister, he said.
Asked if all parties would get similar facilities for election campaign, the commissioner said they were not yet thinking about it as they were not sure of the type of the polls-time administration.
Hafiz also said the EC had completed preparing the voter list and would sign an agreement with the
Security Printing Press within a day or two for printing the list following the chief election commissioner’s approval.
About the participation of the BNP in the polls, he said: “The BNP is a major political party. Why will it stay away from the general elections?” He expressed hope that all parties would take part in the polls.
“Something agreeable will happen, but we do not think it will be a compromise. We want an election which will be participated by all.”
Asked if the commission was thinking about registering the Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF), Hafiz said the EC would register any party that fulfilled its criteria.
The Constitution stipulates that the election should take place within 90 days before parliament’s tenure ends, which means the polls should be administered between October 27 and January 24.
On Monday, at a meeting with the top bureaucrats of the civil administration the prime minister said the election would take place within the 90-day period by January 24.
She also said her cabinet would continue during the period, but would not take policy decisions and the parliament would also remain effective, but there would be no session.
