Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed has vowed to hold an election ensuring the participation of all parties.
After meeting with a group of delegates on Tuesday, the CEC said the election commission is procuring election materials such as transparent ballot boxes, permanent ink etc – from the different countries and aid agencies the delegates represented.
“We would import polling materials from them, while we also sought technical assistance for video arrangement to monitor the voting,” the CEC said at the press briefing. He said the assistance would be provided under a project of UNDP.
Saying that the EC wants to arrange a peaceful and fair election where every party would take part, the CEC added that the commission wants to hold the poll properly, so that people’s opinion are reflected in the result – which could be announced at the centre as soon as voting is over.
Regarding the EC’s recommendation to scrap article 91(E) of Representation of the People Order (RPO), Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said, “We noticed that there is much talk in the media regarding this. We are scrutinizing it at the EC. We will later let you know about our decision.”
When asked about the EC’s stance about Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF), he said, “I have earlier clarified that the EC is assessing the proposed party’s organization and activities in the field level. Which symbol will be issued for them is not an issue now. Let us see whether they are eligible for registration.”
When asked on what the EC plans to do about Jamaat-e-Islami as the court had declared their registration illegal, the CEC said, “The High Court has given a verdict, and there is also a Supreme Court. Whatever the decision may be, the EC would act in accordance with the court’s ruling.
