The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday welcomed the newly appointed chief election commissioner and the four other election commissioners.
鈥楾he way to meet the expectations of the people will be easier after the Election聽 Commission鈥檚 oath-taking. We hope that this commission will work to fulfil the people鈥檚 expectations,鈥� BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said at a press conference at the party chairperson鈥檚 Gulshan office in Dhaka.
The Jatiya Nagarik Committee, a platform of youths who were at the forefront during the student-led mass uprising that overthrew the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, on Sunday rejected the appointment of the new election commissioners and their oath taking.
The platform demanded repeal of the controversial Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022 passed by the immediate past Awami government and cancellation of the AMM Nasir Uddin-led newly formed Election Commission under the law.
It also demanded formation of a new EC under a reformed legal framework based on recommendations from the Badiul Alam Majumder-led Election Reform Commission, formed by the interim government. The commission is scheduled to submit its report by December 31.
At a press conference in the capital, the platform鈥檚 spokesperson Samanta Shermeen read out a statement condemning the formation of the Election Commission, appointment of the election commissioners and their oath taking before the submission and processing of the election reform commission鈥檚 recommendations .鈥楾he government should have waited for the reform commission鈥檚 recommendations before forming the search committee. Unfortunately, it appears that certain parties are unwilling to wait until December 31,鈥� read Samanta, adding that the interim government had formed the Election Commission under the same law used by the fascist Awami League in 2022 to exploit citizens鈥� voting rights.
鈥榃e, the Jatiya Nagarik Committee, are shocked and strongly condemn this decision. We believe the government is failing to reflect the aspirations of the people after the uprising,鈥� read Samanta.
The newly-appointed chief election commissioner, AMM Nasir Uddin, along with the four election commissioners, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmad and former brigadier general Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, took oath at the Supreme Court on Sunday.
Earlier on November 21, president Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed former secretary Nasir Uddin as the new CEC and four others as election commissioners.
Jatiya Nagarik Committee convener Muhammad Nasiruddin Patwary, member secretary Akhter Hossen, members Ariful Islam Adeeb and Sarwar Tusher, among others, were present at the press conference.
