26 November 2018, Mon, 10:52

Secretary General urges EC to create favorable atmosphere for credible and inclusive election

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 26 November 2018 expressing his concern at the biased role of the Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda.

“A fair, credible, free and inclusive election largely depends on the fair and sincere role of the election commission. But along with the countrymen we have been observing that the commission is not playing their due role. Their biased roles are contradictory to the democratic values and electoral codes.

The countrymen expected that, immediate after the declaration of the poll schedule, the concerned authority would stop filing false cases and simultaneous arrest drive against the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatrashibir and other opposition parties.

The Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda said on 24th November that “police are following our instructions. They are not arresting anybody without our directives. Police forces are absolutely under our control.” Such remarks proved that, instead of creating a congenial atmosphere for holding a free, fair and credible election, CEC is busy with making more attempts to foil the election atmosphere. The election commission has to take the liabilities if they fail to hold a free, fair and credible election this time.   

Under the circumstances, I am urging the election commission to stop harassment, repression and discriminatory actions and also to take due steps for creating a favorable atmosphere, which is the precondition for a credible election.