Which election to be held first depends on govt not us: EC Sanaullah on NCP’s demand to prioritise local govt elections
The EC’s comments came in response to increasing pressure from the NCP, which is demanding local elections be prioritised and questioning the neutrality of the commission
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah has said the commission does not have the authority to decide which election will be held first, national or local government.
"It is the government that determines the sequence of elections, not the Election Commission," he said adding, "Our [only] duty is to conduct the elections."
He made the statement today (21 May) after a commission meeting held at the EC office in Agargaon, responding to journalists' questions about the National Citizen Party (NCP) demanding swift local government elections.
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The two-hour-long meeting was attended by all four election commissioners, the EC secretary, and other officials.
Meanwhile, outside the EC building, NCP leaders and activists were staging a protest.
Following the fifth commission meeting, headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, Commissioner Md Sanaullah briefed the media.
When asked about the ongoing movement and NCP's demand for the resignation of the EC, Sanaullah stated, "We don't want to comment on political activities."
He said the demand for EC reformation is a political issue and the commission has no opinion on it.
However, he claimed that the EC is operating in a completely neutral manner.
Addressing the NCP's demand for local government elections to be held before the national polls, he said, "Sequencing of elections — which comes first and which follows — is not in our hands. The government will make that decision based on the prevailing situation. The EC's responsibility is only to conduct the election."
The EC's comments came in response to increasing pressure from the NCP, which is demanding local elections be prioritised and questioning the neutrality of the commission.
The 13th parliamentary elections are expected to take place between December this year and June next year, as per the announcement of the interim government.
While the BNP is pushing for early national elections, the NCP is demanding immediate local government elections.
