CEC’s statement triggers a political storm

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Aditto Rimon
Published : 04:00, Mar 11, 2019 | Updated : 14:37, Mar 11, 2019

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda. FILE PHOTOThe opposition parties have always maintained that in the December 30 election, ballot boxes were filled the night before the polls.
On 8 March last, CEC K M Nurul Huda, observed, “With Electronic Voting Machines, EVMs, there is no chance to fill the ballot boxes.”
Nurul Huda also said that since many voting centres are in remote places, ballot boxes and papers need to be sent before, but with EVM, there won’t be any chance to fill the ballot boxes earlier.
BNP standing committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, told Bangla Tribune, “We have been saying relentlessly that ballot boxes were filled the night before and the CEC has indirectly admitted to what we have said.”
BNP’s standing committee will meet on March 10 to talk about re-election, using the CEC’s statement.
There will also be talk to chalk out a strategy to include other parties in the re-election demand.
BNP party sources say that in the next few days, the party’s Foreign Affairs Committee will hold meetings with diplomats.
BNP will use CEC’s statement to prove that their assertion of vote rigging is true and a call for re-election justified.
Gono Forum president, Dr Kamal Hossain, said, “The CEC is saying strategically that the election was not fair.”
Islami Andolon general secretary, moulana Yunus Ahmad says, “The CEC’s statement that with EVMs, ballot boxes cannot be rigged proves that the complaints of unlawful voting are true.”
I will ask the CEC to accept failure in holding the election and move away, he added.
“The government should give a re-election.”
Political analysts have said that the legality of the election is under question after the CEC’s statement.
Secretary of SUJON, a governance related platform, Badiul Alam, said, “It’s clear that the Election Commission has failed.”
The CEC’s statement gives legal premise to the call of the opposition parties for a re-election, he commented.

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