CEC urges reaching a consensus for fair polls

Newly appointed Chief Election Commission (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today called upon the political parties for arriving at a consensus among them for holding the 12th parliamentary polls in a free, fair and neutral manner. “Leaders of political parties should reach a consensus among them. If the keep distance among them, the distance will further increase,” he told a media briefing at media centre of Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.

The new commission held its first meeting today after taking oath on Sunday. Chaired by CEC Kazi Habibul Awal, the meeting was attended by Election Commissioners Begum Rashida Sultana, Brigadier General (Retd) Ahsan Habib Khan and Md Alamgir and Anisur Rahman. EC Secretary Md Humayun Kabir was also present in the meeting.

Kazi Habibul Awal said, “Strength of the Election Commission is not limitless. We will cooperate with the political parties. If any political leadership doesn’t cooperate with other political leadership and they don’t have any compromise, I cannot be the bguardian of them. They (political leadership) are more learned and experienced than us,”

The CEC said they would make efforts to hold a fair election for ensuring good governance and vibrant parliament.

Noting that the EC will invite BNP, he said if political parties don’t perform their responsibilities, there will be limitations in EC’s sole activities.

“We have responsibility to request political parties. But you (political leaderships) have to reach a consensus among yourselves. You have to reach a agreement that you would help conduct the elections in a proper manner and you won’t make any violence and none will obstruct anyone,” he said.

He said the EC solely cannot create level-playing field rather political parties will have to play role to this end. The CEC urged the political parties to hold talks among themselves to reach a consensus in holding a free, fair and neutral manner.