NCP slams EC as 'spineless', warns of street movement over local polls
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed later said the state minister’s remarks would be treated as binding and that he would not “dare” make counter-comments
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has condemned what it called the Election Commission's (EC) "independence-less and spineless" role, citing contradictory statements by the commission and a state minister over the schedule and process for upcoming local government elections.
In a joint statement yesterday (15 September), NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen said Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah announced possible dates for seven phases of local government elections, but State Minister for LGRD and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam immediately said the government had no knowledge of the matter and had held no discussions with the EC.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed later said the state minister's remarks would be treated as binding and that he would not "dare" make counter-comments. The NCP leaders said this exposed the commission's "extreme spinelessness and subordination".
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They said the EC's failure to maintain an independent position showed it had become subservient to the government, while shifting statements under government pressure were undermining the guarantee of neutral and fair elections.
The NCP alleged that the government seeks partisan control of state institutions, calling it "fascist-style greed for power and undemocratic practice". It also alleged that a person linked to the ruling party's election activities was appointed contractually as an EC additional secretary, turning the constitutional body into a partisan instrument.
The party demanded that the EC free itself from government influence, explain its "unprofessional conduct" and end what it called the executive's illegal and undemocratic interference in the commission and other state institutions.
Nahid and Akhter warned that the public would not accept a subservient EC after the July uprising. They threatened a "tough resistance movement" with the people if the government continued interfering in state institutions and prevented the EC from functioning impartially.
