No foreign pressure on EC in next national polls: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today said that there is no pressure from the international community or foreign diplomats on the Election Commission (EC) regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

“Comments of international community members or foreign ambassadors didn’t create any pressure on the EC regarding the next parliamentary elections. It is (remarks of foreign diplomats) a matter of the government, they will discuss it through bilateral talks,” he said.

The CEC made the remarks while inaugurating the distribution of Smart National Identity Cards at Mirzaganj Upazila Parishad Auditorium here in the afternoon.

The EC will hold a participatory election  on time, in line with  the constitutional process, Awal said, adding that no political party is being forced for taking part in the polls rather they have been requested  . 

“We want to hold a fair election with the participation of all political parties. If the opposition party (BNP) takes part in the next parliamentary elections, it will make the election more participatory,” he said. 

Noting that process is underway for holding the elections using electronic voting machines (EVMs), the CEC said the polls will be held using ballots if finally it is not possible through EVMs.

EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam presided over the inaugural function while National Identity Registration Wing Director General AKM Humayun Kabir, Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services (IDEA) Project Director Brigadier General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Sayem, Barishal Range DIG SM Aktaruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Shariful Islam, Superintendent of Police Md Saidul Islam, Mirzaganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Khan Md Abu Bakr Siddique and other officials concerned were present at the programme.