Set out qualifications for election commissioners: CEC

24 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday stressed the need to set out specific qualifications for becoming an election commissioner. The method of appointment of election commissioners (ECs) must also be transparent, he said and stressed the need for integrity and willingness on the part of election commissioners to work independently. Speaking at the launch of an UNDP study report titled 'Elections in Bangladesh 2006-2009: Transforming failure into success' at a city hotel, the CEC also criticised the political parties for demanding resignation of election commissioners frequently. Currently, the government can appoint anyone as election commissioner without considering his qualifications and past records. Tenure of the incumbent EC members will expire in early 2012. In the study report, the UNDP said one crucial test that lies ahead will be ensuring that any newly appointed members of the EC enjoy the support and confidence of all major political parties and the public at large. “Maintaining the success of the electoral reform process will require substantial political will by the political parties, the parliament and specially the government to ensure that conditions remain in place for free, fair and credible national elections,” it said. “The more difficult hurdles ahead, however, are political. Another will be whether the political parties can find ways to cooperate better and to avoid return to the politics of confrontation that brought the country to a precipice at the beginning of 2007,” it added. The study said within parliament, the opposition parties have averted to traditional politics of boycott and outside of parliament, there are some signs of the reemergence of politics of confrontation and retribution. Peter Eicher, Dr Zahurul Alam and Jeremy Eckstein conducted the study. CEC Shamsul Huda said the current EC has charted out the path and hoped that the process of electoral reforms would continue. In an oblique reference to the main opposition's demand for his resignation after Bhola-3 by-election, the CEC said, “If you keep asking for resignation all the time, then it [EC] would not grow as an institution.” He also said the EC comprising human beings might make mistakes. “But you will have to be patient.” Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said the EC would have to engage mechanism to contain the use of unauthorised money in the elections. Nomination process in the political parties must also be transparent to stop transaction of money, he said. In his welcome address, UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Priesner said progress on electoral reforms undertaken during the 2008 election period needs to be sustained. “For this, the independence of the Election Commission is absolutely critical. Also, all stakeholders have a role and responsibility to play in ensuring an environment conducive to holding of free and fair elections”, he said.