Photo: Collected
The Electoral Reform Commission's recommendation to make the Election Commission (EC) independent is not necessary, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today (26 January).
"Electoral Reform Commission has recommended making the EC independent. We are already independent, so what is there to make independent again? Such a proposal is unnecessary," he made the remarks while addressing a discussion at the Media Centre of the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon this morning.
Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) organised the event, which was chaired by RFED Chairman Akramul Hoque Sayem and moderated by its General Secretary, Md Humayun Kabir.
Nasir said, "The circumstances in which we took up our duties did not have the field ready for us. The field is still not ready."
"Fifteen reform commissions are still working. Hence, we have not yet been able to set the rules of the game. If we can't set the rules, how can we expedite the organisation of elections?" he asked.
The CEC said the laws must be sorted out by October if elections are to be held in December. "And we know that May and June are the rainy season here, a time when national elections do not take place," he added.
Messenger/Tareq
