TIB urges President to recast EC by removing CEC, other commissioners

Noting that the way the Election Commission getting involved in controversies is unprecedented and embarrassing for the entire nation, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Thursday urged the President to remove the CEC and other commissioners, and recast it, reports UNB.

“Reports of a nasty blame game among the chief election commissioner, Commission Secretariat and other commissioners as published in all the media are unprecedented and embarrassing for the entire nation,” TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said in a statement.

There is no option but to reconstruct the Election Commission by removing the CEC and other election commissioners to put an end to this state, he said. “We expect interference of the President in this regard.”

Mentioning that at least one commissioner recommended the appointment of a bodyguard, the TIB chief said commissioners are not in a state to realise that interfering in the appointment process after holding a constitutional post is a moral turpitude.

He also cited the forgery over providing national identity cards to Rohingyas where EC officials were involved. “Now, they’re fighting over the lobbying for the appointment of junior employees and irregularities,” he said, adding that such shameful chapter must end for the sake of democracy.

On November 24, the commissioners sent an unofficial note to the CEC where they alleged that they were not informed about the recent appointment of employees.
Some 15 EC staff were found to be involved in providing NID cards to Rohingyas, said Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission (EC) Brig Gen Saidul Islam on September 23.

They found a list of 61 Rohingyas who tried to be voters.