Although there was a demand from all quarters on enacting a law to form the next Election Commission, it now seems that the government is determined to form a “subservient” EC through a “subservient search committee,” said speakers at a virtual programme today.

They also rejected the law minister’s claim — that formation of the new law in a bid to form the new EC is not possible due to time constraint — at the programme organised by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan).

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.

“It was expected that the government would take the initiative to form the next Election Commission in a transparent manner and the first step of the process was to enact a law in this regard. But it is clear that the government does not want to enact that law,” noted jurist Shahdeen Malik said.

“The government snatched away our voting rights in the last national and local body elections,” he said.

Shahdeen Malik said, “We have seen the outcome of ‘subservient ECs’ in many countries. People remain patient for certain period of time due to these actions of the government. None of us want that to happen. Therefore, we hope the government will pass the law. Then the next election will be fair”.

Local government expert Tofail Ahmed said, “We hope that the government will take measures to pass the law in the next session of parliament”.

Robaet Ferdous, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University, said a state fails when its major institutions fail.

“Election Commission is a very important institution of the state. We cannot allow this to fail. Our movement will continue until the government enacts and passes a law on formation of the election commission.”

Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said, “Our right to vote will be blocked if the government forms the ECs in the past.”



Looks like govt determined to form subservient EC: speakers
Source: Trend Viral Philippines