There Is No Level Playing Field Among The Election Commission

‘There is no level playing field Among the Election Commission’, said Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder. In the upcoming Dhaka City Corporation elections, this is not the way the Commission is required to perform its duties.

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder made these remarks while talking to reporters at his office on Sunday, January 26.

Mahbub Talukder said that since the announcement of the City Election Schedule, there have been no discussions on any of the three commissions that have been held till now, regarding the conduct, irregularities or complaints of candidates for the Dhaka City Corporation elections. No such commission has been on the agenda. He said that in the election commission meeting which is going to be held on January 28, there is no agenda on any matter about Dhaka City Corporation.

Terming these incidents as tragic, Mahbub Talukder said, “The four’U’ and notes I gave on January 9, 13, 16 and 20 on the election of Dhaka City Corporation have been ignored in the past, but not in the new phase.” There was no discussion or necessary action on the contents. If my statement was unacceptable, I still should have known.

Mahbub Talukder added, “Through the UO note issued on January 16, I asked senior secretaries of the Commission Secretariat and two returning officers of the Dhaka North and South City Corporation to inform them about the various complaints.” But my instructions were ignored and no information was provided to me. ‘

Mahbub Talukdar claims that no complaints were made by the political parties or candidates in the Election Commission about the upcoming city corporation elections or any chargesheets were sent to the Commission.

If the dissatisfaction behind these allegations explodes, the election of the City Corporation will not be held properly, which is in no way desirable. The Election Commission will have to bear this responsibility.

News Room, January 26, 2020