AL keeps mum on new EC ‘to avoid controversy’

For the first time, the Awami League (AL) has not given any formal reaction on on the new Election Commission (EC), though its arch rival, the BNP, has already done so. AL insiders said the party would not give any formal reaction, as it feels that saying something on the issue can create a controversy.
As part of the AL's new policy, it will avoid countering each and every statement of the BNP, the insiders added. However, for the past couple of days, this correspondent has been trying to find out why the ruling party is silent on the EC, which will oversee the next general election scheduled to be
held in 2019.
AL joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni told this correspondent that party chief Sheikh Hasina had instructed central leaders of the party not to talk much about any national issue.
“At the parliamentary board meeting held recently at the Prime Minister’s official residence, our leader instructed us not to give any formal reaction on the new EC to avoid controversy,” she said.
On Monday night, President Abdul Hamid appointed former secretary KM Nurul Huda as the chief election commissioner (CEC) and also named four other election commissioners. For the first time, a woman was among the election commissioners. Talking to this correspondent, AL organising secretary barrister Muhibul Hassan Chowdhury (Nawfel) said: “If we give a formal reaction, it will have a negative impact on the party. I think we should remain silent on the issue. The President appointed the CEC and other election commissioners after holding talks with 31 registered political parties. So, we have nothing do. If we talk on the issue, many will think that we have interfered in the process of forming the EC.”
 When contacted, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said there is no need to talk much on every issue. “As the BNP has failed to launch any strong movement, it is trying to be in the limelight through the media. And if we do not counter each and every statement of that party, it will gradually become weak,” he argued.  He also opined that the media has kept the BNP alive, otherwise the party would have been isolated from the people long ago.  In its formal reaction, the BNP had said that the newly formed EC is to the liking of the Prime Minister. A “controversial government official” has been appointed the CEC, the party said.  “We are deeply frustrated and aggrieved. It will not be possible for the new commission to perform its duties fairly,” BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said. In response, the AL did not give any formal reaction. The party’s general secretary, Obaidul Quader, just said that the BNP would join the next general election under the newly formed EC. 

AL keeps mum on new EC to avoid controversy

For the first time, the Awami League (AL) has not given any formal reaction on on the new Election Commission (EC), though its arch rival, the BNP, has already done so. AL insiders said the party would not give any formal reaction, as it feels that saying something on the issue can create a controversy. As part of the ALs new policy, it will avoid countering each and every statement of the BNP, the insiders added. However, for the past couple of days, this correspondent has been trying to find out why the ruling party is silent on the EC, which will oversee the next general election scheduled to be held in 2019. AL joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni told this correspondent that party chief Sheikh Hasina had instructed central leaders of the party not to talk much about any national issue. At the parliamentary board meeting held recently at the Prime Ministers official residence, our leader instructed us not to give any formal reaction on the new EC to avoid controversy, she said. On Monday night, President Abdul Hamid appointed former secretary KM Nurul Huda as the chief election commissioner (CEC) and also named four other election commissioners. For the first time, a woman was among the election commissioners. Talking to this correspondent, AL organising secretary barrister Muhibul Hassan Chowdhury (Nawfel) said: If we give a formal reaction, it will have a negative impact on the party. I think we should remain silent on the issue. The President appointed the CEC and other election commissioners after holding talks with 31 registered political parties. So, we have nothing do. If we talk on the issue, many will think that we have interfered in the process of forming the EC. When contacted, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said there is no need to talk much on every issue. As the BNP has failed to launch any strong movement, it is trying to be in the limelight through the media. And if we do not counter each and every statement of that party, it will gradually become weak, he argued. He also opined that the media has kept the BNP alive, otherwise the party would have been isolated from the people long ago. In its formal reaction, the BNP had said that the newly formed EC is to the liking of the Prime Minister. A controversial government official has been appointed the CEC, the party said. We are deeply frustrated and aggrieved. It will not be possible for the new commission to perform its duties fairly, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said. In response, the AL did not give any formal reaction. The partys general secretary, Obaidul Quader, just said that the BNP would join the next general election under the newly formed EC.