Home ›› 03 Nov 2022 ›› Governance
Chief Election Commission Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia must fit into the legal framework if she wants to participate in the next national election.
Awal made the comments in response to questions from journalists on whether Khaleda, who has been convicted of corruption, can take part in the next polls due either in December next year or in January 2024, reports UNB.
When asked about the CEC’s opinion on Khaleda Zia’s participation in the election, he said, “We have some legal framework.”
“What will be the position from that side, we don’t know yet. We do not want to comment on this,” he added. Asked what will happen if she submits the nomination papers, the CEC said that it will be verified according to the law.
She filed nomination papers in the 11th National election too but it was rejected. When the matter was brought up by the journalists, the CEC said, “We have said that we will check it legally. If it is at all necessary, we will conduct legal investigations.”
In 2018 general election Khaleda filed nomination papers to contest from Feni-1, Bogra-6 and 7 constituencies.
The returning officers rejected the nomination papers citing her conviction in graft cases.
Later, when an appeal was made against the decision of the returning officers, it was also rejected by the then KM Nurul Huda-led Commission.
The CEC said the commission will liberally welcome foreign observers to the national elections.
“Foreign observers will be generously welcomed...but there is an issue to this end. Those (the foreign observers), who are interested (to come to Bangladesh) must get the visa,” he said, reports BSS.
“We do believe our government wants fair elections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Home Ministry will cooperate with them to this end,” he said.
The CEC said that the commission has not taken any decision yet about the suspended Gaibandha-5 by-election.
“It is true that we have received the investigation report on the irregularities took place during the polls but we are yet to take any decision. We could not sit in a meeting. You will be informed about the investigation report in due time,” he said.
He said in a briefing during the monitoring of the election to local government bodies in different areas from Election Commission headquarters.
The probe committee submitted its report on Sunday.
Election Commission’s Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath who headed the committee submitted the report to EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker.
But the CEC did not share the details of the report in the briefing.
The EC suspended the election because of “widespread malpractices” on the election day on October 12.
It also extended the deadline for holding any fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, or till January 20, 2023.
While there was no concrete decision over if a new election will be held, pending an investigation into malpractices on the election day, the Election Commission said that the deadline has been extended to follow the rule of 90 days in holding an election after a seat falls vacant.
Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022.
