Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has finally moved to end his “go alone” policy that used to leave the four other election commissioners in the dark while running the EC.

The move came on October 2 when the Election Commission Secretariat in an office order said there were deviations from rules and regulations in running the activities of the EC secretariat and the four commissioners noticed that. The EC directed the authorities to run the secretariat's activities in line with the rules and regulations, the order added.

Before the issuance of the order, the CEC on the same day had invited the commissioners to tea at his office room. 

Sources at the EC have confirmed The Daily Star the issuance of the order.

Distance had been growing between Huda and other commissioners over the former's “unilateral decisions” on different important activities.

The rift came into the open after the four election commissioners last month had sent “unofficial notes” to the EC secretariat expressing their disappointment at its functions.

The four election commissioners are Rafiqul Islam, Mahbub Talukder, Kabita Khanam and Sahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

EC sources said distance between the CEC and the commissioners widened over holding of the 9th meeting of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia in Dhaka on September 5 as the election commissioners' opinion about the event was not sought.

None of the four election commissioners took part in a training workshop of EC officials in the capital's Nirbachon Bhaban on September 22 as they were “not informed” about the programme. The CEC was present at the event.

Besides, opinions of the four election commissioners regarding the important workshop ahead of the upcoming general election were not taken. The next parliamentary polls are likely to be held in late December.  

Some election commissioners alleged that the CEC and the EC secretary took some important decisions and carried out some activities avoiding them.

The commissioners also sent “unofficial notes” to the EC secretariat pointing that some EC rules were being violated in running the EC's activities.

“All decisions of the Election Commission should be taken on the basis of majority opinion. In many cases this rule was not followed,” an official of the EC secretariat quoted an “unofficial note” as saying.

In the “unofficial notes”, the commissioners said as per rules, they were supposed to know about all the EC decisions. But the commission took several decisions after receiving the CEC's approval and they were not aware of those.

The election commissioners also asked EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed to produce all important files of the commission before them. They also wanted to know about the EC's election preparations, different activities of its secretariat and its various projects, sources said. 

Talking to The Daily Star on condition of anonymity, an election commissioner yesterday said he didn't know anything about the EC's proposal to buy electronic voting machines (EVMs) worth Tk 3,800 crore. 

Another commissioner said he was in the dark about the field level visits of election officials ahead of the upcoming national election and several other election-related issues. 

“Journalists often question us about different activities of the election preparation, EVM project and visits of election commissioners. But I cannot answer them [journalists] as I am in dark about those issues.”

He said he asked the EC secretariat to inform him about the commission's functions.

The present election commissioners, led by the CEC, had taken office in February last year.

Sources at the EC said Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder in July last year first sent an “unofficial note” regarding a reshuffle in the EC secretariat.

On August 30 this year, he wrote a note of dissent on the EC's proposal to seek amendment to the Representation of the People Order for using EVMs in parliamentary polls.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said BNP had told them that they would contest the next parliamentary elections.

"They [BNP] did not say in any print or electronic media that they would not contest the national polls. I am hopeful all the major political parties, including BNP, will take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections," he said.

The CEC was addressing a views exchange meeting with the district administration at the deputy commissioner's office.

He said, "We held talks with different political parties and they have suggested deployment of army during the polls. We will decide about it once we conclude the talks."

In reply to a query, Huda said the commission was on high alert so that no Rohingyas could be enlisted as voters.

"Besides, discussion was going on about involving the commission in the registration of the Rohingya refugees in biometric method," he said.

"Moreover, a special committee is monitoring the 30 upazilas where the Rohingyas' presence or movement was recorded," he said.

The CEC told these to journalists after holding the views exchange meeting chaired by Helaluddin Ahmed, acting secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, Superintendent of Police Mahbub Alam, District Election Officer Tajul Islam and election officials from 16 districts, among others.

The CEC told the meeting that all the local government elections would be held under the incumbent commission in a free and fair manner.

CEC KM Nurul Huda sent a letter to the Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury today requesting not to allow any lawmaker to participate in election campaign in upcoming city polls.

Election Commission secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told The Daily Star that the CEC sent the letter following media reports that lawmakers are participating in the election campaign which is a violation of electoral code of conduct.

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According to electoral code of conduct, lawmakers cannot part in any electoral campaign.

Regarding the arrest of BNP leaders and activists, he said police arrested people on specific allegation and none was harassed.

If anyone has any criminal charges, police will arrest him, that is natural but no one is arrested without any specific allegation.

The city corporation elections to Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal will be held on July 30.

BNP today lambasted the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for yesterday's comment that the first phase of the Union Parishad election was largely fair and acceptable.

CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed's comment did not reflect the reality as "12 persons died and over 500 were injured" in the polls violence, said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir BNP, acting general secretary of the party.

Fakhrul was addressing a discussion at Photojournalist Association in Dhaka organised by the Jubo Jagpa, youths' body of Jatiya Gonotantrik Party, marking the Independence Day.

"We've seen in the media the widespread violence and irregularities that took place across the country during the polls," Fakhrul said adding, "But, the Chief Election Commissioner said the elections were fair and acceptable. His statement is nothing but contrary to the reality. If this is the situation where and whom will the people go to?"

Fakhrul also alleged that the election system has been destroyed to impose a one-party rule in the country.

The first phase of elections to 712 UPs was held amid violence and various irregularities in different areas across the country.

Talking to reporters after the voting yesterday, CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad claimed the election was largely fair and acceptable.