Dhaka: All preparations have been completed for the resignation of the Election Commission (EC) headed by Kazi Habibul Awal, who was appointed during the Sheikh Hasina government, who resigned in a popular student uprising. It is said that the announcement may come at any moment.
CEC has called an emergency press conference at 12 noon on Thursday (September 5). According to multiple EC sources, the resignation will be announced from the press conference.
Former Senior Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal was appointed as CEC on February 26, 2022 through the search committee. Along with CEC the other Commissioners who were appointed are Retired District and Sessions Judge Begum Rashida Sultana, Retired Army Officer Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan, Retired Senior Secretary Md. Alamgir and Retired Senior Secretary Anisur Rahman. The 12th Jatiyo Sangsad(JS) elections were held unilaterally under this Commission. This election was boycotted by BNP and their like-minded political parties. Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League formed the government for the fourth consecutive time after the polls.
Since the last parliamentary elections, opposition political parties including BNP have been agitating for the resignation of the Election Commission along with the government. In the meantime, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister in the face of intense student movement. After the fall of the government, the Interim government removed the officials known as the confidants of the Awami League in the administration. At that time, there was a demand to dissolve the current Election Commission and form a new Election Commission. Various programs have been held in this regard for several days.
Last Wednesday (September 4), an organization called Nagarik Samaj held a protest rally in front of the Election Commission building. In addition to the resignation of the current Election Commission, 5-point demands have been made from the protest rally, including the reform of the Election Commission to establish voting rights. The issue was also discussed in the meeting of Election Commissioners.
According to EC sources, the Awal Commission has failed despite repeated attempts to meet the top level of the government to know their position and what to do after the Interim government took over. However, after the political change, they think that it is certain that reforms are coming to the Election Commission like other constitutional institutions. That is why they have been mentally preparing for several days. While the other commissioners including the CEC are in office, the preparation for their exit is currently taking precedence. They are removing their essential documents and other materials at the last moment.
The Election Commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal was not invited to Bangabhaban for the swearing in ceremony of the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Not attending the swearing-in ceremony on the pretext of security has led to controversy in the political arena.
The CEC held a meeting with other election commissioners in his office at the election commission building on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters later, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal said that the EC's decision on the resignation will be announced on Thursday which will be said at the press conference at 12 noon on Thursday. He also said that the EC members will go to meet the President after the press conference.
According to the Constitution (Article 118), the Chief Election Commissioner and four Election Commissioners are appointed by order of the President. Resign voluntarily or by order of the President in any special circumstances of the State. The maximum tenure of these posts of the Election Commission is five years from the date of assumption of office. However, the concerned people feel that the current commission has to leave before the expiry of the term.