Former Communications Minister and BNP leader Nazmul Huda on Saturday urged President Abdul Hamid to take initiatives for the reconstitution of the incumbent Election Commission to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
In a statement, he said, “Many political parties, including BNP and Jatiya Party, have expressed their no-confidence in the Election Commission raised a question about its neutrality. They also declined to participate in the election under the commission.”
Under the circumstances, reconstitution of the EC has become inevitable, Huda said, adding that it will be the timely step by the President to reform the commission after taking the opinions of all parties in the interest of the nation and to overcome the ongoing political crisis.
He also said a free and fair election is possible under the EC if it acts neutrally and undependably, and performs its constitutional responsibilities, no matter which government stays in office during the polls.
Mentioning that it is the constitutional pledge of the Election Commission to work independently and impartially, the former minister said, “If the commission breaches this promise, it’ll be the violation of the constitution that’s tantamount to treason.”
On June, 6, 2012, Huda resigned from BNP in protest against party chief Khaleda Zia’s failure to engage in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as per his proposal. Later, Huda floated Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) with some mid-ranking BNP leaders. But on March 10 this year the BNF relieved Huda of the party’s convener post for his ‘anti-party’ activities. – UNB
