Former chief election commissioners KM Nurul Huda and ATM Shamsul Huda today said participation of all political parties is a must for an "acceptable" election.

They were speaking at a discussion organised by Election Commission where former CECs and election commissioners expressed their views over the upcoming parliamentary election, based on their experience. 

They also discussed the next course of action ahead of the national election.

Former CEC Nurul Huda said, "I believe that participation of all parties is required in the elections.  I'll win, I must win – we have to shed this mentality."

He added: "There is no need to deploy army for the elections."

Former CEC Shamsul Huda said, "If all parties don't participate, election will not be acceptable. How to bring all the parties to the polls depends on your (EC) ability to convince them."

"A political party cannot stay out of elections for long in a democratic country. We have to create that environment," he said.

"Let there be a truly-elected government through fair elections in our country. Let's cancel use of muscle power," he added.

Another former CEC, Justice Abdur Rauf, said, "If you keep things as is and do not dare to make any change, then set up one polling station for every 500 people. This will reduce the voting hours and voting will end between 8am and 12pm. You can complete counting of votes in the day time. The worst thing is that the counting of votes starts in the evening. And then we 'see jinns and ghosts' and everything else."

Nurul Huda discharged his duty as CEC from February 27, 2017 to February 14, 2022; Shamsul Huda from February 5, 2007 to February 5, 2012; and Justice Abdur Rauf from December 25, 1990 to April 18, 1995.  

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda yesterday said the national election would not be inclusive without the participation of the BNP.

“The BNP is a big political party. How is it possible to hold an inclusive election without its participation? The election will not be participatory without the BNP. I had said it earlier and I am saying it again,” he said.

He came up with the comment when ruling Awami League collected nomination form for the presidential candidate at Nirbachan Bhaban.

The CEC expressed the hope that the BNP and other political parties would contest the national election likely to be held by the end of this year.

“Still I hope that the BNP and all the political parties will contest the polls.”

The BNP boycotted the January 5, 2014 elections demanding polls under a non-partisan interim administration. It has still been demanding the same, but the ruling party says the next general election will be held under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led administration.

The BNP has recently started alleging that the government is trying to keep party chief Khaleda Zia and her party away from the polls as well as politics.

Rejecting the allegation, ruling party leaders said it is the responsibility a political party to contest the polls, not of the government to bring it in the election.

Hasina in parliament has recently outlined the election-time government.

CEC Nurul Huda said the commission always wants participation of all political parties in the election and they would be able to avail themselves of the same facilities.

The EC would conduct the election in a neutral manner, he assured.

The ruling AL has collected the party's nomination paper on behalf of President Abdul Hamid to run the presidency for another term.

A team of the AL parliamentary members, led by Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip ASM Feroz, went to the EC at Agargaon in the capital and collected the nomination paper yesterday morning, Asaduzzaman Arju, joint secretary (media and publications) of the EC, told The Daily Star.

The other members of the team are Jatiya Sangsad whips Md Iqbalur Rahim and Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker.

If any other political party that has representation in parliament does not nominate any candidate, Hamid would be elected unopposed in the elections, Asaduzzaman added.

On Thursday, Hasina formally conveyed the president of her party's nomination to him to run the presidency for another term.

Earlier on January 31, the AL Parliamentary Board made the decision at a meeting at the Gono Bhaban with party chief Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The tenure of Hamid, who took office on April 24, 2013, will expire on April 23 this year.

The presidential election is scheduled to be held on February 18.

According to article 123 of the Constitution, presidential election has to be held within 90 to 60 days of expiry of the president's five-year term.

The presidential election is deemed crucial as the next parliamentary polls will be held at the end of this year. This means the next president will be in office for four years of the next government.

Before taking oath as the president, Hamid was elected lawmaker seven times and also served as the Speaker twice.

He became acting president on March 14, 2013 after the then president Zillur Rahman was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 10. Zillur breathed his last at the hospital on March 20.

Alleging that BNP is facing bar to election campaigning, the party has sought security from police to conduct electioneering safely for the next 18 days.

BNP Vice Chairman Selima Rahman led a delegation to meet Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Patwary and sought assistance this afternoon.

Afterwards, Selima told reporters she requested the police chief to ensure security and safety of her party men during the run-up to elections on December 30.

“Our leaders are being arrested. Those who were on bail are also being arrested for old cases” Selima said. “Elsewhere, our leaders are attacked and their campaigns foiled.”

She said, the police chief listened to the complaints with attention and assured of security and safety of the campaigners in the future.

'CEC embarrassed due to helplessness'

BNP Vice Chairman Selima Rahman said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda is feeling embarrassed due to his helplessness.

"We think CEC is truly embarrassed because the EC cannot exercise its power," she said while briefing the journalists after submitting a letter on behalf of her party to the commission this afternoon.

"If CEC takes actions the election would be acceptable to all," she added.

In the letter, BNP sought EC's interference for stopping attack and harassment inflicted upon BNP activists even after the start of election campaign.

WHY CEC IS EMBARRASSED?

Earlier in the morning, CEC KM Nurul Huda said in a briefing that, he is embarrassed over yesterday's attack on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's motorcade in Thakurgaon and a clash in Noakhali where a Jubo League leader was killed.

WHO ATTACKED FAKHRUL?

Mirza Fakhrul's motorcade came under attack, allegedly by AL men, in Thakurgaon's Danarhat village when he went to his hometown on December 11, a day after the Election Commission opened the field for Election Campaign.

At least 10 people were hurt and four vehicles were damaged in the attack, according to BNP leaders.

Meanwhile, local AL leaders denied such allegations while talking to our correspondent.

OTHER CLASHES

After the polls campaign officially began on December10, clashes broke out in several districts, including Noakhali.

A local Jubo League leader was killed in a clash between the “activists of Awami League and BNP” in Noakhali Sadar upazila when the “BNP men” attacked at a procession of AL activists on December 11.

In Faridpur, Yusuf Bepari died after he was hurt in a scuffle with a BNP supporter following a heated debate over the election.

Clashes were also reported from  Faridpur, Manikganj, Bogura, Chuadanga and Natore yesterday.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

The 11th general election will be held on December 30. It was deferred once by the Election Commission upon demands from the opposition political parties.

The Election Commission begins a dialogue today on upcoming parliamentary elections with the civil society representatives who would stress a level-playing field for all political parties.

The civil society representatives are likely to recommend that the EC bring some changes to the RPO, introduce the provision of "no vote" and include the armed forces as a regular force in the definition of law-enforcement agencies.

The Daily Star has contacted a dozen of 59 invitees who are scheduled to join the talks at the EC Secretariat with CEC KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

According to the EC schedule, two hours were allocated for discussion on seven agendas.

Although they welcomed the move, some expressed dissatisfaction over the timeframe as each guest would get only two minutes to present their views.

Former caretaker adviser M Hafizuddin Ahmed said it would be tough to make the commission understand the points clearly within two minutes.

"I will emphasise that the commission has to create a level playing field before the election; otherwise the election will not be meaningful," he said, adding that the EC should introduce no-vote.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), said, "I would like to stress the need of unqualified courage and capacity of commission leadership to fully comply and act in accordance with each and every provision of the RPO without fear or favour.

"They have to realise that they have nothing to gain except the trust of the people, and it is practically in their own hands provided that they can resist any pressures from any quarters -- direct or indirect. I would also be particularly interested to see that the commission gives top priority to enforcement and monitoring of compliance of provisions specific to campaign finance," he said.

Renowned educationist Syed Manzoorul Islam said, "I would not join the talks for two reasons -- first, I have scheduled class at that time and second, the commission has invited 60 people and even if 40 people turned up, it would not be an organised conversation."

Local government expert Tofail Ahmed said it is not possible for EC alone to hold a free and fair election and that is why all the stakeholders must behave responsibly.

Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of Janipop, said, "Personally I think two issues -- comprehensive violence tackling mechanism and electoral dispute resolution -- should be discussed."

Former caretaker adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury said she cannot understand if the meeting would be fruitful as the issue is huge but the discussion timeframe is very limited.

Educationist Dr Tareque Shamsur Rahman said the main point is the EC has to take steps to ensure a level playing field for all political parties.

Election Commissioner Kabita Khanam said, "We have decided to continue the meeting even after lunch, if required. So, there is no time barrier."

Earlier, ATM Shamsul Huda-led commission held talks with the civil society representatives and political parties.

Huda's successor Rakib Uddin-led commission also held talks with the civil society representatives, but BNP and its alliance partners refused to join in.