DHAKA: Speakers at a roundtable meet alleged that the Election Commission (EC) failed to perform its duty properly in recent national and upazila elections.
Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad organized the roundtable meet titled ‘Democracy, Election, Election Commission and Present Perspective’ at the National Press Club on Saturday.
They also alleged that EC helped ruling Awami League government to stage farce in the name of election.
Criticizing election commission’s duty, they said if commission performs its duty properly, polls would be free, fair and non-violence. But no election was held properly under present commission as it failed to work with sincerity, they added.
As chief guest BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia opined that democracy is established through election but the government has been formed without inclusive election.
So, it is “illegal government” and various anomalies incidents, including ballot boxes snatching, fake votes and obstruction to voters took place during the election.
He also said, “There is no provision in the constitution to appoint acting chief election commissioner in absence of any chief election commissioner. In this regard, present acting chief election commissioner is illegal. He is just like a party cadre for his controversial remarks.”
Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia urged the government to defunct the incumbent election commission for this reason.
Addressing the roundtable, Jubo Dal President Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said army is the dependable organization to mass people, but election commission made them controversial by using them in polls.
Jahangirnagar University Professor Abdul Latif Masum presented the keynote while BNP Chairperson’s Adviser AZM Jahid Hossain conducted the roundtable meet.
Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union President Ruhul Amin Gazi presided over the programme.
Former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Emajuddin Ahamed and pro vice-chancellor AFM Yusuf Hayder also spoke.
BDST: 1700 HRS, APR 05, 2014
