There was no way but to hold Jan 5 polls: Rakibuddin

Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad today said there was no way for the commission other than holding the general election on January 5, 2014 for continuation of constitutional consistency in the country.

“As the political parties could not reach any consensus it became a challenge for the EC to hold the election. There was no way other than holding the election to ensure the constitutional consistency,” reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo quoting Rakibuddin as saying.

The outgoing CEC was talking to reporters on his last day of office at the conference room of EC Media Centre at Agargaon in Dhaka, reports our correspondent covering the press conference.

The other four election commissioners -- Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Brigadier General Md Zabed Ali (retd) and Md Shah Nawaz -- were also present at the briefing.

READ ALSO: Ex-secy Nurul Huda new CEC

The outgoing CEC, who took upon the charge of the EC on February 9, 2012, also claimed that he discharged his duties impartially as head of the election governing body in the last five years.

“We have faced many challenges in the last five years. However, we have successfully overcome those challenges… We have also arranged six elections properly with success,” he said.

He also said that he did not receive any calls from any quarter or even received any pressure from any side. “I delivered my duties neutrally during my tenure.”

ALSO READ: EC has no failure: Rakibuddin

Earlier on February 6, President Abdul Hamid appointed a batch of new election commissioners who will organise and oversee the next parliamentary election.

Former secretary KM Nurul Huda has been chosen to lead the next Election Commission while the other four members of his team are: Mahbub Talukder, former additional secretary; Md Rafiqul Islam, ex-secretary; Begum Kabita Khanam, former district and sessions judge; and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

The tenure of Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad – who oversaw the city corporation elections, upazila and union parishad elections – expires today.