Why did EC Mahbub walkout of meeting?

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder again walked out of an election preparatory meeting of the commission placning a note of dissent this afternoon.

He left the meeting room around ten minutes after start of the meeting chaired by the Chief Election Commission KM Nurul Huda at Nirbachan Bhaban. Later, Mahbub Talukder explained before the media why he boycotted the meeting.

“I wanted to present some proposals during the meeting to make the next general election free, fair, impartial and acceptable to all, but I was not allowed,” Talukdar told reporters at his Election Commission office.

Mahbub said he boycotted the meeting for disagreement on various issues and not being allowed to give his opinion.

“Election Commission Secretariat through an unofficial note (UO) on October 8, asked me to present my proposals during today’s meeting but I was denied the permission. I felt humiliated,” he said.

Claiming that the freedom of speech and expression is fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution, Talukdar said, “The Election Commission cannot curb the rights in any way.” 

“Under this circumstance, I boycotted the meeting, submitting the note of dissent in protest against such decision of the Election Commission,” the EC said.

On August 30 last, he boycotted another meeting of the Commission issuing a 'note of dissent'.

In his first proposal, Talukdar said the commission will have to take decision on how to deploy army in the next general election evaluating performance of the army in the previous ones.

In his second proposal, he said the irregularities in the elections will be stopped if it is held in a participatory manner. Democracy is not flourished if political parties stay aside from participating in the elections. And thus the commission has to hold bilateral talks with the political parties.

In the third proposal, he said neutrality in the election depends upon the level playing field. To ensure inaction of the lawmakers during the polls does not depend upon the commission solely.  And thus, the government assistance is needed in this regard.

In the fourth proposal, he said the Election Commission has adequate power. It has also limitation in terms of exercising the power. It was seen in the previously held city corporation elections that the election Commission has failed to establish its control on the pressure groups. The commission has to take the issue into its account on how to keep the pressure organisations under its absolute control.

In the last proposal, the election commissioner said the government is the major stakeholder of the Election Commission in the national election and some issues depend upon the government wills. And thus, talks with the government over the issues are needed, he added.