No opinion on reconstitution, commission working neutrally: EC Sanaullah

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah has said that they have no opinion on the reconstitution of the election comission (EC), as it is a political matter. He also claimed that they are working in a "completely neutral manner".

He further said that it entirely depends on the government whether the national parliamentary elections will be held first or the local government elections.

EC Sanaullah made these comments around 1:30pm today, while briefing reporters, following the fifth commission meeting of the EC, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin in the capital's Agargaon area.

All four election commissioners, the EC secretary, and other relevant officials were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the Nationalist Citizens' Party (NCP) staged a protest outside the EC office from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Their demands included reconstituting the Election Commission and holding local government elections before the national polls.

The 13th parliamentary election is expected to be held between December this year and June next year.

When attention was drawn to the ongoing movement by the NCP outside, demanding the resignation of the EC, Sanaullah said, "We do not want to express any opinion regarding political activities."

Regarding the demand for holding local government elections before the national parliamentary elections, EC Sanaullah said, "This is a matter of sequencing of elections -- what will be held first and what later is not in the hands of the Election Commission. The government will decide which election will be held first or later. The responsibility of the Election Commission is to conduct the elections."

When asked about the NCP questioning the EC's neutrality, Sanaullah maintained, "The commission is performing its duties in a completely neutral manner and will continue to do so."

In response to whether a pilot project on election campaigning under the EC would be undertaken, he said, "Policy approval has been given. Finalising it will take a little more time."

When asked about the EC's authority to cancel candidacies directly, he declined to elaborate, saying, "These matters will be addressed through rules and regulations."

After the Election Tribunal's verdict regarding the Mayor of Dhaka South, the Election Commission (EC) issued a gazette notification.

As no appeal was made afterward, it has drawn criticism.

Regarding this, EC Sanaullah said, "The legal basis for our actions lies in the Representation of the People Order, 1972, Article 50; the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, Section 54; the Local Government (Municipality) Rules, 2010, Rule 54; the Upazila Election Conduct Rules, 2013, Section 56; and the Local Government (Union Parishad) Election Rules, 2010, Section 54. All of these specify who may be made a party in an election petition. There is no provision for making the Election Commission a party."

He added, "We have reviewed all relevant election laws and regulations, and there is no scope for the EC to be made a party. Moreover, there is no precedent of the EC becoming a party in such cases in the past. Therefore, the law does not grant us the authority to be made a party."