The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda came under fire by major parties like BNP and Awami League for the CEC's controversial remarks and plan for holding upazila polls before general election.

Talking to reporters, acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman said the CEC's imbalanced statements created doubts about the holding of general election by the December deadline.

Zillur said, "Neither the caretaker government nor the election commission has any right to organize the local-body elections before the parliamentary polls."

He demanded that the Commission announce the specific date for elections and holding the national elections without delay.

Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta reaffirmed Awami League-led 14-party alliance's stand for holding the general election first. He said after installation of an elected government, the local elections could be held within months' time Likening the Commission's plan to hold upazila election before parliamentary polls to such an awkward act as putting the cart before the horse, Sengupta pointed out that during the two-phase dialogue with Awami League, the Commission had never raised or discussed the matter of upazila elections.

However, he said a decision regarding the upazila polls could be reached on the basis of consensus between the government and the Election Commission and political parties.

BNP joint secretary general Goyeswar Chandra Roy said CEC Huda should resign voluntarily before the raising of demand for his resignation as he said the CEC "lost his neutrality through his partisan remarks".

Talking to reporters at his house, Roy wondered how the CEC could say the incumbent election commission is the product of Awami League's movement and how he could say that Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was illegally expelled from BNP.

The BNP leader blamed the Commission for creating the present deadlock over its dialogue with BNP through sending the invitation letter to a 'wrong address'. The invitation was given to the rebel faction of the immediate-past ruling party.

"The Election Commission itself has created crisis in implementing its roadmap for election," he said, adding that people want a neutral election commission.

Roy said BNP has been run for last 29 years on the basis of the present party constitution. It will not be right to speak beyond this constitution.

He observed that confusion has been created among the people about the holding of parliament elections as the commission now plans upazila elections.