AL wants to keep EC commissioner under pressure

Ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance has devised a strategy to put pressure on election commissioner Mahbub Talukder, an apparently dissenting voice in otherwise 'tamed' election commission.

The ruling camp has been a bit embarrassed at the ‘note of dissent’ issued by the commissioner twice against decisions of the election commission (EC) and his emphasis on participatory election and deployment of the army personnel.

So, the AL and its allies have demanded Mahbub Talukder's resignation, a rare demand, fearing he might create more embarrassing situation before the 11th parliamentary polls, likely to be held at the end of December.

“Those who are holding constitutional posts must keep anything confidential. What he [Mahbub Talukder] has done is an unfair act. He should not act like that from his position. Otherwise he should resign,” AL presidium member and 14-party spokesoperson Mohammad Nasim said after a meeting of the alliance on Wednesday.

Apart from issuing a ‘note of dissent’, Mahbub Talukdar even boycotted an EC meeting once again on 15 October, alleging that his opinions were not taken into consideration.

He also briefed newsmen about his five proposals -- discussing ways to deploy army personnel during the polls, holding talks with political parties for participatory elections, increasing the EC’s capabilities, finding ways to ensure equal opportunities for all parties contesting the polls and discussing with the government on recommendations that came from the dialogue with political parties and various groups.

The next day, chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said holding of the 11th parliamentary elections will not be a tough task despite discord among the commissioners in taking decisions.

A senior leader of the AL said they are also aware that people will get negative message before the polls if they exert undue pressure on an election commissioner, a constitutional post.

On 30 August, commissioner Mahbub Talukder boycotted another meeting of the commission issuing a ‘note of dissent’ on the use of electronic voting machine (EVM) in the 11th national elections.