Former Election Commissioners on Wednesday welcomed the decision of suspending the by-election of Gaibandha-5 seat due to irregularities.
Terming the decision of the current commission a proper one, the former EC members said that the decision taken by the commission was right and lawful as incidents of vote rigging took place there.
The former EC members came up with the opinion during a view-exchange meeting with the present EC officials at the EC Bhaban on Wednesday.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal presided over the meeting where former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdur Rauf, Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed, KM Nurul Huda, former Commissioner Brigadier (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain, Shah Newaz Rafiqul Islam, Kavita Khanam, former Dr. Muhammad Sadiq, Sirajul Islam, Muhammad Abdullah, former EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, MA Reza, former Additional Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman and Jasmine Tuli participated. The EC had invited a total of 28 former EC members and 14 of them attended the meeting.
During the three-hour meeting, various issues, including the suspension of Gaibandha-5 by-election, use of EVMs in the next National Parliament elections and the transfer of national identity cards to the government, were discussed.
At the end of the discussion meeting, Abdur Rauf, one of the former Chief Election Commissioners told the reporters, "When voters cannot vote and vote of one person is cast by another person, the Election Commission cannot remain sitting inactive.”
“The independent Election Commission has this right to suspend the voting when gross irregularities are found”, he said and continued as saying, “We have told the present EC members that if necessary, they should stop voting in future to save the nation.”
Asked about the use of EVMs, he said, "Let the commission keep trying. It will happen if people are educated.”
Another former CEC Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed said, "Election Commission is a constitutional body. We have suggested that they will work according to the constitution and law.
Talking about the use of EVMs, former CEC Kazi Raqib Uddin Ahmed advised to make the people of the country aware of the EVMs through publicity.
Pointing out that the Election Commission has taken the right decision regarding the Gaibandha by-polls, another former CEC KM Nurul Huda said, "The Election Commission has taken the right decision."
“They observed the situation and took the proper decision. They have the authority to take such decision,” he said.
Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain has urged the Election Commission (EC) to focus more on the use of CCTVs rather than EVMs (electronic voting machines).
"The money allotted for purchasing EVMs could be put to better use by installing as many CCTVs as possible," said the former EC member.
“Besides, the commission will be able to easily spot vote rigging, let it be in paper ballots, with the help of CCTVs,” he added.
Sakhawat also ‘apreciated’ the EC move to suspend the Gaibandha-5 by-polls following reports of widespread irregularities and said that such actions, when needed, must be continued.
"Otherwise, the nation will feel that the EC was just showing off," he added.
"If the commission feels that the election is not going smoothly then it can suspend it until the situation is brought under control," he said.
"The constitution's Section-119 mentions holding free and fair polls. No other commission has been able to do what was done in the case of the Gaibandha by-election.
"Had this been done in, say, 1994, the political scene of the country would have been very different."
Emphasizing the importance of confidence among election officers and employees, he said, "You have to make the election officials feel confident so that they can believe you will ensure their safety during national polls.”
"In the case of the viral video of the Barisal zila elections, the EC should support the UNO."
Sakhawat Hossain also said, "I don't know why the Ministry of Home Affairs wants to take the responsibility of issuing NIDs.”
"This will create complications with the voters' list in the future."
Meanwhile, the present commission is now feeling comfortable as several former CECs and EC members welcomed their decision on the Gaibandha by-polls issues.
CEC Kazi Habibul Awal said, 'The action we took has been welcomed by the former EC officials. They said - it was right, legally and constitutionally correct. They advised us as mentors, elders - to move forward with honesty and courage.”