Expressing dissatisfaction with the electoral enquiry committees, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday advised their members to be proactive for winning people's trust.

"We had formed 122 electoral enquiry committees on November 25. We had expectations that at least 122 complaints would be disposed of. But you did not even resolve 22 complaints,” he said. “It's because you haven't completed your preparation.”

Huda was addressing the inaugural session of a conference at the Election Commission Secretariat.

The comments came several days after the CEC had said there was no violation of electoral laws during the filing of nomination papers for the December 30 polls.

Read more

BNP's strategy works well

Election Commissioner Kabita Khanam addressed yesterday's programme ahead of Huda. In her speech, she called upon the members of the committees to be “visible”.

Referring to the call, the CEC said, "It means you have not made yourselves visible yet. It also means you are not aware of such a major duty given to you.

"When you become visible and vibrant, people will know you and consider you as their acquaintances. They will come to you and have more trust in you," he said.

He also said the EC was receiving hundreds of complaints. “It was not supposed to happen as you [members of the enquiry committees] are there.”

"We will send the complaints to you."

Huda reminded the committee members of their responsibilities, saying that government officials and employees have long been involved in the electoral process.

"People should not go here and there with their problems. You have to be proactive while carrying out your duties. You have to be vibrant," he said.

The 122 electoral enquiry committees, consisting of judicial officers, were formed to ensure prevention and control of pre-polls irregularities. Each committee has two members -- a joint district judge and an assistant district judge.

The committees, on the basis of allegations, would look into them and make recommendations to the EC for taking actions.

After the inaugural session, the EC held a closed-door meeting with the members of the electoral enquiry committees. The commission asked them not to do anything out of enthusiasm.

Talking to this correspondent, some members of the committees said they did not get any complaint and that they thought their “main duty” would commence after December 9.

"If we don't get any complaint, will we find out those by going through newspapers?” asked an additional magistrate from Sylhet division.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has ruled out any scope of holding fresh election, as demanded by opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront.

“There is no scope to hold the national election again,” he said while briefing to media today, a day after the 11th parliamentary election was held.

Rejecting the allegation of ballot stuffing on the night before election, the CEC said: “It is completely untrue.”

Expressing complete satisfaction over the election, he said the voter turnout in the polls was 80 per cent.

Nurul Huda said the election took place with festive atmosphere but there may have some unfortunate incidents during the voting and the commission will investigate the incidents.

HOW WAS THE ELECTION?

Voting for the 11th parliamentary election ended peacefully in Dhaka; but was tainted with violence elsewhere across the country and cost the lives of at least a dozen people.

Reports of casualties came in from Cumilla, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Noakhali, Narsingdi and Gazipur.

Allegations of vote rigging, election clashes, intimidation and irregularities came in from several other constituencies and capital Dhaka city.

Also, the election saw opposition candidates boycotting elections in at least 43 constituencies; 42 of who were Jatiya Oikyafront runners.

WHY 2018 POLLS IS SIGNIFICANT?

It is after 10 years that Bangladesh and its people are witnessing an election that is being held in participation of all the major political parties.

The last one held on January 5, 2014, was highly debated both nationally and internationally as it saw no election to more than half of the seats.

A total of 153 constituencies out of the total 300 saw lawmakers elected uncontested – an election which was boycotted by prime opposition BNP.

Sheikh Hasina remained in rule for two consecutive terms with the parliamentary opposition of Jatiya Party, which took part in the cabinet of Awami League.

The chief election commissioner and one of his colleagues have contradicted each other over the issue of army deployment during the next general election.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar on multiple occasions in the last two days said army will be deployed.

But CEC KM Nurul Huda yesterday said the commission was yet to decide on the matter.

“The commission has not taken any decision in this regard [though] discussions are underway whether the army would be called out during the polls,” state-run news agency BSS quoted him as saying yesterday.

About Talukdar's statement, Huda said, “It is his personal remark.”

Talukdar on Monday told reporters that army would be there, but the method of deployment was not decided yet.

He said this a day after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia demanded army deployment with magistracy power during polls.

Talukdar, talking to reporters in the capital's Nirbachan Bhaban yesterday, reiterated what he said on Monday.

“I talked to other commissioners and their realisation is that the army should be deployed. I also personally think that there should be army to meet public expectations.”

He, however, admitted that the decision over the matter was yet to be taken in an EC meeting.

Time will say how, and in which format, the army will be deployed.

Meanwhile, the acting EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said the commission would come to a decision after election schedules are announced.

“We still have a year in hand [before the election],” he told BSS.

About the possibilities of giving magisterial authority to army during polls, he said, “No election in the country saw the deployment of army having magistracy power.”

Ahmed also said the commission was yet to decide whether to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).

JAMAAT LEADERS TO BE BARRED FROM POLL

Identified Jamaat leaders will not be allowed to contest the elections even if they run as independents, Mahbub Talukdar said yesterday.

“The Election Commission will not accept identified Jamaat leaders. The commission will properly examine if any Jamaat leader wants to contest the election independently.”

Talukdar, however, did not say whether the commission will formulate a law in this regard.