The Election Commission (EC) has come under scrutiny upon its complains that they are left in the dark in decision-making.
Questions have also surfaced over the “absolute authority” entrusted to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda.
The commissioners have alleged that CEC Huda and EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed call all the shots, leaving them unware of many important tasks.
In many cases, the Election Commission Secretariat Act and Election Commission Secretariat Rules are not followed.
Recently, the aggrieved commissioners handed an “unofficial note” to the EC secretary suggesting he should follow the EC law and rules in decision-making.
In many cases, the tasks are not presented to the commissioners for approval, according to the note.
The note cited election-related training, seminars and workshops at home and abroad as an example.
It goes against the Election Secretariat Act and the rules related to it if the secretariat implements its programmes ignoring the law and rules, the commissioners said.
“In view of these opinions, all the tasks should be done in line with the EC acts and rules.”
A copy of the note has been sent to the chief election commissioner as well, said Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam.
“I haven’t done it alone. All of us have agreed on the note,” Islam told bdnews24.com. “We have asked them to inform us about any important issue related to the election.”
EC Secretary Ahmed said he received the note sent by the commissioners. However, he did not want to comment on the complaint about 'absolute authority'.
The Election Commission Secretariat Act was introduced in 2009.
Two election commissioners of the erstwhile commission headed by ATM Shamsul Huda were vocal for an amendment to the Independent EC Secretariat Act that gave the CEC and the EC secretary ‘absolute authority’.
“That was unconstitutional,” said the then Election Commissioner Sahul Hossain.
The then chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, had proposed a constitutional amendment to the government to establish absolute authority in the EC. Two commissioners – Muhammed Sahul Hossain and M Sakhawat Hossain – objected to it.
A similar question has been raised 10 years later, but there was a ‘conflict of power’ in the EC headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed.
The Election Commission is the final authority to approve the spending of budget allocated for the EC secretariat, but the budget issues are never placed at any commission meeting.
The election commissioners drew attention to the execution of all activities in accordance with the EC law and rules.
With the 11th national election looming, the conflict within the Election Commission became evident.
“We have issued this note asking them to inform us about important issues. I hope the law and the rules will be followed properly,” said Mahbub Talukder, another EC member.