The journey of the new EC begins.

The journey of the new Election Commission began yesterday, Sunday, with the swearing-in of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four election commissioners. After the oath-taking, CEC AMM Nasir Uddin said that it will be possible to organize the national election only after the necessary reforms are completed, not before.

After the oath-taking, the CEC came to the Election Building with the four new commissioners. Then he exchanged views with journalists for the first time. When asked when the election could be held at this time, Nasir Uddin said, “I cannot say with a date, when the election will be held. We will start preparations from today. The election is not possible without the reforms required for holding the election. I have heard that there are fake voters; there is also disagreement among political parties on whether it will be a bicameral (Parliament) or the current one. Some want proportional representation elections, some want the current system. If there is no decision on these issues, how will we prepare? Suggestions will come from the Election Reform Commission. After incorporating suggestions from everyone, free and fair elections will be held. He said, all our efforts will be intensive so that a fair, credible election can be held and we will devote all our strength for this.

Earlier, at 1:30 pm, Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed administered the oath to the Election Commission led by Nasir Uddin at the Supreme Court Judges Lounge. After the oath, the new commission reached the Election Commission building at around 2:45 pm. The first briefing with journalists was supposed to be held at 3:30 pm. However, due to lunch, the commission reached the meeting room at around 4 pm. Shortly before the briefing, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s picture was taken down from the meeting room on the sixth floor of the Election Commission building.

On the question of the Awami League and its allied parties participating in the elections, the CEC said at the press conference, “I will be able to say when a decision is made regarding the Awami League and its allies through the Reform Commission. This is a matter of ethnic decision. I do not want to comment now.”

After the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge, an electoral reform commission was formed, headed by Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar. Since its formation, the reform commission has been meeting with various stakeholders continuously and taking recommendations. The commission will submit a final report after scrutinizing all those recommendations.

Highlighting the initiatives of the government’s reform commission, the CEC said, “The chief advisor has repeatedly said, you give me the recommendations for reforms; I will sit with the political parties. We will accept the recommendations that the political parties agree on; where there is controversy, some parties will not accept them, we will leave them for the decision of the next government.”

When asked what they think is the main challenge of the new election commission, the CEC said in one word, “To hold a fair and credible election.” He then added, “This commission does not believe in one-sided elections. The head of the interim government does not have a party. He has no political ambitions. Therefore, there is no pressure on us, and there will be no pressure in the future either.”

AMM Nasir Uddin said, “We will ensure that environment so that voters can vote for their preferred candidate without any problems, Insha Allah.” Referring to the previous elections, he said, “The country has already won by holding one-sided elections. We do not want to see a forced election. We want competitive elections and a level playing field. We will create that so that everyone can play.”

The CEC said, “This is a great opportunity for me. At the end of my life, I have got an opportunity to do something for the nation.”

The other commissioners of the Election Commission, led by retired Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin, are former Additional Secretary Md. Anwarul Islam, former District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rahmanel Masud, former Joint Secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmed and retired Brigadier General Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah.

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