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Fair polls not possible under current EC

Says Khaleda, demands resignation of all election commissioners

Staff Correspondent
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday demanded resignation of the election commissioners claiming they are not at all neutral and they can never hold a free, fair and neutral election.
"It is very clear that the Election Commission [EC] is speaking in favour of a particular party. If they really love this country, if they really want a free, fair and neutral election in the country, then they should resign and handover power to unbiased people so that they can hold a free and fair election," she
During a meeting with leaders of Shikkhak Kannachari Oikya Jote at her Gulshan office, she also said, "This government and the Election Commission are not neutral... the government is working in favour of a particular party [apparently Awami League] and they want to get their preferred party elected. People of that party are being appointed at different places
including in the administration and in educational institutions."
“This Election Commission can never hold a free, fair and credible election."
"In fact, this government has been appointed to protect the interest of that party," she said. "People want the elections and any conspiracy against the elections will not be acceptable."
"The situation in the country will worsen if the government does not leave the office after holding the elections on December 18," the former premier said.
"Hold the elections on December 18 meeting our sevenpoint demand," she said.
"Even though a number of advisers claimed that the government has met BNP's six-point demand but it is not true," she said, adding that the advisers said this only to confuse people.
Khaleda also asked the government to create a level-playing field for the upcoming elections.
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Demanding withdrawal of the state of emergency, she said free and fair elections are not possible under the emergency.
She said according the constitution, re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies has to be done before preparing a voter list but the EC has done the re-demarcation after completing the voter list.
Criticising the EC for formulating electoral laws, Khaleda said it is not the duty of the commission; it is the duty of the parliament.
DELWAR'S STATEMENT
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yester-day asked Chief Election Commission (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda to provide evidence in favour of his claim that the 2001 elections were not free, fair and neutral.
"The sort of irresponsible remark by the CEC about previous elections will only create confusion about future elections," he said in a statement.
The CEC on TYiesday strongly criticised the role a number of deputy commissioners played in the 2001 parliamentary elections. He said he has anecdotes about how dangerous deputy commissioners can get in an election environment. "But I do not want to mention those and do not want to see repeats," he said.
The CEC’s speech expresses his willingness to hold a 1970-like election and this was unexpected, said Delwar.