The chief election commissioner refuses to say with a finality that the Awami League government will oversee the next general elections in two and a half years' time even though caretaker governments are obsolete.
Commenting on the 15th amendment to the constitution that the president signed into law, ATM Shamsul Huda said on Sunday, 'What do you think, the issue has been finalised? I haven't spoken to anybody on the matter. What I gathered from newspaper is that the issue apparently is still open.'
'The prime minister is still telling the opposition party (BNP) and the four-party alliance, 'Come, let's talk',' he told reporters.
Parliament passed the 15th constitution amendment bill into law on Thursday, annulling the caretaker government system, amid strong protests by the opposition BNP-Jamaat alliance. The parties separately called a 48-hour hartal for July 6-7 demanding reinstatement of the non-party government.
The amended constitution says elections will be held on the last 90 days of an elected government's term. Parliament will not hold any sessions at that time, though it will not be dissolved. The cabinet will perform routine duties and cooperate with the Election Commission in holding the elections.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, after passing the amendment bill said legitimate claims from the opposition would be taken into consideration.
The CEC thought the issue of next election was still a political one and thought it inappropriate to comment on it before the issues were finalised.
'We still see the issue as wide open. Everyone is saying, there is nothing final in politics.
'The Awami League general secretary says this is art. Now we don't know what further colours this art will get. We will know when the art is complete,' he said.
Huda said the EC would decide its course of action after the decisions are finalised.
Source : New Age
