Dhaka, Sep 05 (V7N) — Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal announced his resignation today at a press conference held at 12 noon. Along with him, four other election commissioners are also stepping down, marking a significant development in Bangladesh's political landscape.

CEC Awal, in his statement, described the event as a "courtesy event," confirming that the decision to resign had been made collectively. He explained that their resignation letters had already been signed and submitted to the Election Commission Secretary, who will forward them to the President.

Present at the press conference were Election Commissioners Brigadier (Retd.) Ahsan Habib Khan and Mohammad Alamgir. However, Commissioners Begum Rasheda Sultana and Anisur Rahman were notably absent.

Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 due to the mass student-led movement, there have been increasing calls for the resignation of the Awal-led Election Commission. Speculation had been growing for weeks regarding whether they would step down voluntarily or await a government decision. 

According to reliable sources, the Election Commission members had unsuccessfully attempted to consult with the President and top officials of the interim government regarding their roles. Faced with political and public pressure, CEC Awal and his colleagues ultimately chose to resign today.

Kazi Habibul Awal's Election Commission had taken office on February 27, 2022, with a five-year term. During their tenure, the 12th National Parliament election, held in January, faced significant boycotts from most opposition political parties. Only the Awami League and its allies participated in the election, casting doubts on the legitimacy of the process.