The Election Commission (EC) has presented the nation a participatory and all-inclusive election for the first time, says Commissioner Mahbud Talukdar.
“Our elections never had any continuity. Sometimes it was held under caretaker government, sometimes under military-backed or party government. But, it was never a participatory election,” Talukdar said on Thursday (Jan 3).
Speaking at a thanksgiving event for EC officials, Talukdar said, “This (Dec 30) election will create a tradition in the history of Bangladesh.”
Citing the electoral process a ‘massive work’, Talukdar praised all the EC staffers as well as the chief election commissioner and his fellow commissioners.
“How they made the election a success will be a life experience for me,” he said.
Citing he maintains a good relation to the CEC and his fellow commissioners, Talukdar hoped to continue his office for the next three years.
Talukdar, a former additional secretary, came to limelight days before the Dec 30 election for speaking against the CEC and his other colleagues. He even walked out of the EC meeting for at least two times.
On Feb 7, 2017, President Abdul Hamid reconstituted the Election Commission appointing KM Nurul Huda, a former secretary, as the next chief election commissioner.
He also appointed Mahbub Talukder, Rafiqul Islam, a former secretary, Kobita Khanom, a former district and session judge, and Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, a retired army officer, as commissioners.