EC cannot hold fair polls alone: Ex-CEC Huda

Former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda today said Election Commission is not solely responsible for holding a free and fair election, the political parties also have responsibilities for it.

“Election Commission is not responsible alone to hold a free and fair election. Political parties too have the responsibilities in this regard,” Huda said after holding talk with the Election Commission at its Sher-e-Banglanagar office in Dhaka this noon.

Former chief election commissioner Abdur Rouf also joined ATM Shamsul Huda in the electoral talks with the commission there.

“We hope all political parties will join the next general election while the Election Commission would refrain from doing anything that can hurt the trust of the constitutional body,” Huda said.

Stressing the need for strengthening the Election Commission, he proposed the election commission to appoint its own officers as returning officer at the polling centers.

Responding to a query about election-time administration, he said it is a constitutional matter and the election commission cannot bring any change in this regards.

Through the today’s talks with the former commissioners, the election commission concluded its electoral talks for holding the next general elections in a free, fair and credible manner. Earlier the CE held a series of dialogues with different political parties, social society members, journalists, and other stakeholders.