CEC silent on home minister’s remark that he ‘violated the constitution’

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin today said he would not comment on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed’s remarks in the parliament that he (CEC) violated the constitution by distributing oath forms for members of the Constitution Reform Council.

He also said he would refrain from commenting on matters pending at the court.

Nasir Uddin made the remarks around 12:30pm at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, following a visit to monitor the Bogura-6 by-poll and the rescheduled general election in Sherpur-3.

On March 31, the home minister told parliament that the CEC had violated his oath and breached the constitution by distributing oath forms for members of the Constitution Reform Council.

“Under which provision can the president convene a session of the Constitution Reform Council?” he questioned, adding that the issue of an oath would arise only if the constitution had been amended, the oath format for members defined, and the individual responsible for administering it clearly identified.

“I could have asked the CEC who authorised him to issue such oath forms, but since the CEC is not present in parliament, that question can't be raised,” he said.

Citing several constitutional articles, Salahuddin described last year’s Constitution Reform Implementation Order-2025 as "legally void".

Asked about the home minister’s statement, the CEC said, “Cases have already been filed over these issues. They are now sub judice. I do not want to make any comment.”

He added, “We do not want to comment on discussions in parliament.”

An election commissioner, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star, “That form was issued by the Parliament Secretariat, not by us (EC). The CEC personally informed me that no such form was provided by the Election Commission.”

On February 17, members elected to the 13th Jatiya Sangsad took their oath of office. The Constitution Reform Council suffered a setback as BNP’s elected representatives took oath as MPs but declined to be sworn in as members of the council.