The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The tug of war between the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the two Election Commissioners over the control of the Election Commissioner Secretariat is still on, widening the distance between the CEC and his two colleagues.

According to competent sources, the two Election Commissioners are unhappy as the Election Commission Secretariat Ordinance 2008 promulgated on March 9 bestowed the full control of the EC Secretariat on the CEC.

Meanwhile, the sources said, the Commissioners have sent a letter to the Chief Adviser to look into under whose control the EC secretariat would actually remain. The two Election Commissioners are expecting an answer in this regard from the CA's office within a week.

The tussle in the Election Commission in fact started after the government approved the ordinance in January, delaying its promulgation. Eventually, the government promulgated the ordinance on March 9, making the EC secretariat free form the Prime Minister Office.

But the concerned quarters said the promulgation of the ordinance would not make the EC Secretariat free since its secretary, according to the present government service rules, would be appointed by the government as per the requisition of the EC.

The gazette notification of the ordinance says the entire control of the EC secretariat would remain under the CEC and the EC secretary would be the administrative head of the secretariat.

Meanwhile, on February 6, Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told journalists that they have informed the government that the secretariat's control should be under the jurisdiction of the (three) Election Commissioners headed by the CEC.