The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission headed by CEC Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda will meet Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Monday afternoon to discuss issues concerning the independence of the Commission.

The Council of Advisors last week approved the Separate Election Commission Secretariat Ordinance 2008 providing independence to the Election Commission.

EC Sohul Hussain said that during the meeting with the Chief Advisor they would raise the points of the Commission's accountability as well as power of formulating rules.

"There are some issues raised (regarding the ordinance). We'll meet the Chief Adviser to sort out the issues that are being reported in media-to whom the Commission will be accountable and who will have power of formulating concerned rules," he told UNB Sunday evening at his Gulshan house.

He said the government is trying heart and soul to make the EC independent and independence of the Commission a major achievement. However, Sohul apprehended that holding of national elections on time might be hampered if the EC is brought to court frequently on different issues.

"Possibility may be there to hamper the holding of the elections (in due time), if the Commission is brought to court frequently (on different issues). So, it should be kept in mind before going to court," he said responding to a query about the HC order on the EC to inform why the information about a voter's religious status would not be kept in the voters' particulars form.

Everyone of the country should work for one purpose (for elections), he said, adding that they want to hold the elections and all should help them implement the roadmap to hold the polls by December 2008.