The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission sees state of emergency as a "barrier" to holding election as its Commissioner Sohul Hussain Tuesday said it is not possible to hold the polls keeping the emergency in force.

"State of emergency is a barrier to holding election and it is not possible to hold elections keeping the state of emergency in force," said the Election Commissioner about the EC position.

He said the Election Commission would ask the government to create appropriate atmosphere for holding elections, but it would entirely depend on the government whether to lift or relax the state of emergency.

"State of emergency is a barrier to holding elections… But, if you think about the circumstances of 1/11 and justify it, then it's the government who is to take the decision on how (relaxing or lifting the state of emergency) the elections will be held," Sohul told reporters at his office in the afternoon.

But, he said, the elections would be held relaxing the state of emergency. "It's not possible to hold the election keeping the state of emergency prevailing," he said.

He, however, pointed out that once elections were held under a state of emergency in the country.

"Fact is they, who are in charge of controlling the overall factors of the country, will conceive what to do… The Election Commission is thinking about asking the government to create a congenial atmosphere to hold elections relaxing or lifting the state of emergency," Sohul said.

Asked if the EC would ask the government to lift the state of emergency, the Election Commissioner said it would be solely the government who should decide whether to relax or lift the state of emergency, not the EC.

"But, for any reason if we think that the elections will be hampered due to state of emergency, then we'll ask the government to relax the state of emergency more or do something else."

On the first day of the year 2008, Sohul firmly reiterated the EC's old promise to hold a free and fair election under a neutral voter list with photograph by the set timeline, that is, by December 2008 according to the EC- announced election roadmap.

The only objective of the EC is hold a free, fair and transparent election and fully facilitate the people of the country in casting their vote without any impediment, he said. But, simultaneously, country's situation has to be understood.

As to when the EC would sit with the government to discuss the matter of creating electoral atmosphere, Sohul said they would apprise the government of the matter one month before starting to hold city-corporation elections, and that might be in February or March next.

Asked how the national elections would be held, under the state of emergency or relaxing it, he told the newsmen to wait. "Let's see what can be done… The time has not yet come to say how the national elections will be held," he said.