Not finance minister's job to talk about election date

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda yesterday said Finance Minister AMA Muhith has made a mistake by announcing the date of the next general election.

“We didn't tell him anything regarding the election date. It was not his job [to talk about it],” the CEC said at a press conference following a two-day conference of Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia at a city hotel.

He made the remarks a day after the finance minister said there was a good chance that the next parliamentary election would be held on December 27.

The minister also said the interim polls-time small cabinet was likely to be formed within the next 20 days with representatives from all parties currently in the parliament.

Meanwhile, Roads Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also spoke on Muhith's comment on the election date.

“We cannot embarrass the Election Commission. The commission will talk about the election date. It is not the minister's job to talk about the election date. It would be good for the government and the country if we play our respective roles, staying within our respective fields,” Quader said while talking to reporters at Awami League's office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

Muhith yesterday backtracked from his earlier remarks on the possible date of the upcoming national election and formation of the election-time interim government.

Talking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat, Muhith yesterday said what he had shared about the election date and the polls-time government was his opinion and assumption.

The senior minister said it is the prime minister who will decide on formation of the election-time government and the Election Commission will announce the date of the election.

In reply to a query, Muhith said it has been finalised more or less that he would not participate in the next election.

He, however, said there is a possibility that he might remain in the polls-time cabinet. The prime minister will finalise the matter, he added.    

Asked who will participate from his constituency if he does not participate in the election, Muhith responded “My brother Momen [MA Momen]. I have confidence in him. It is the Awami League election nomination board who will finalise this. I hope the nomination board will select him for this constituency.”