Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a member of the BNP’s standing committee on the new Election Commission (EC), said, “We had no interest in the commission.” Not yet. Those whose names I saw in the new EC, it has been another Huda Commission. Each of them is a beneficiary of Sheikh Hasina’s government.
He made the remarks in a response to the announcement of a new EC on Saturday (February 26) afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the new Election Commission (EC) has formed the President. Abdul Hamid. A notification to this effect was issued signed by Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam.
Former Senior Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Kazi Habibul Awal has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The four new commissioners of the EC under his leadership are- Begum Rashida Sultana (District and Sessions Judge, Retired), Ahsan Habib Khan (Brigadier General, Retired), Md. Alamgir (Senior Secretary, Retired) and Anisur Rahman (Senior Secretary, Retired).
Regarding the new EC, the BNP standing committee member further said, “Our words are clear – we will not go to the polls under Sheikh Hasina.” Not under any commission. We will go to the polls only if there is a neutral government during the election, a neutral EC and administration.