Political culture moves towards positive direction: Shakhawat
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hussain yesterday said the country's political culture has moved towards a positive direction compared to any other time in the past.
“All the political parties, including the opposition, helped us (Election Commission) during our tenure, although the main opposition opposed many issues for the sake opposing”, he said while talking to journalists on different aspects of their tenure at EC Secretariat.
Speaking of his five-year experiences as a commissioner, Shakhawat said, “I have tried to discharge my responsibilities as per my oath. At the beginning, there were a lot of challenges and I had to go through tough times. But, the media gave me a lot of support”.
The outgoing commissioner also welcomed the search committee formed by the president to constitute a new Election Commission and termed the initiative positive.
But, it would be more neutral if the Election Commission Secretariat was entrusted with performing the secretarial responsibilities instead of the cabinet division, he said. “The EC always performs as a neutral body”, he added.
Shakhawat said that after long days, a structure has been formed for the constitution of the Election Commission with members of constitutional bodies for the first time.
On the appointment of the head of the search committee, he said had the chief election commissioner been made the head of that committee, it would have been better.
Shakhawat said the reform proposal of the Election Commission would be sent to the government in a day or two.
On the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) election, he said it is a big challenge to hold the election. He, however, hoped the new election commission would hold the polls successfully.
Shakhawat also informed journalists that the election schedule for Shariatpur-3 constituency will be announced next week.
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