Dhaka, Jan 26 (V7N) — Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin expressed concerns about holding elections during the rainy season, as suggested by the Chief Advisor, and criticised several recommendations made by the Election Reform Commission. The remarks were made during a RFED Talk at the Election Commission (EC) building on Sunday.

The CEC stated, "Elections are not held during the rainy season. If elections are scheduled for December, preparations must begin by October. To achieve this, laws, regulations, and rules must be finalised promptly. Delays or changes during this period would pose significant challenges."

Concerns Over Recommendations

Nasir Uddin voiced strong objections to various reform proposals, including:

Independent Institution for Delimitation: The CEC rejected the suggestion to create an independent body for boundary demarcation, stating, "The EC itself is an independent institution. Shifting this responsibility is against the constitution."

Penalising Election Commissioners: He criticised the recommendation to penalise commissioners for failing to ensure fair elections, calling it detrimental to their independence and open to misuse.

EC Budget Determination: The proposal to limit the EC's authority over its budget was also opposed, with the CEC stating it would undermine the commission's independence.

NID Management: Nasir Uddin argued for the National ID (NID) system to remain under the EC, highlighting past disputes when the NID was transferred to the Home Ministry.

Operational Challenges

The CEC also highlighted operational issues, including delays in voter list updates and party registrations due to legal and procedural complexities. He noted, "The recommendation to transfer promotion and transfer authority of EC officials to the EC itself would disrupt our primary functions."

He added, "Our law and order situation remains unresolved, and we need the cooperation of law enforcement agencies and the public to ensure fair elections."

Appeal for Efficiency

Drawing a comparison to caretaker governments, the CEC said, "During caretaker regimes, elections were held within three months. However, the current delays in finalising laws, rules, and regulations make this timeline difficult."

The CEC concluded by reiterating the need for swift resolution of legislative and administrative hurdles to ensure a transparent and timely electoral process.

END/MSS/AJ