Removal of CEC, 2 new Ecs demanded

Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad stages a demonstration in front of the High Court in the city yesterday demanding removal of chief election commissioner and two newly appointed election commissioners. PHOTO: STAR

Addressing a rally, they said the next general election would not be free and fair under CEC MA Aziz and two ECs Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Zakaria.

The rally was organised by SASP, a forum of pro-opposition lawyers, at the south hall of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) with its Convenor Barrister M Amir-ul Islam in the chair.

SCBA President Advocate Mahbubey Alam said the government has completed all arrangements for holding a planned election like that of February 15, 1996 by appointing its men in all the state institutions.

"The government has been making conspiracy for holding a blueprint election as they have realised very well that they will not be able to come to the power through free and fair election as the people will not cast their votes for BNP-Jamaat alliance for their misdeeds," he said.

Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru said the CEC and two 'controversial' ECs would have to be removed from their posts for the sake of transparency and accountability of the Election Commission (EC).

He said the EC has become a farce due to unconstitutional activities of the CEC and appointment of two controversial persons as ECs by the government.

Barrister Amir-ul Islam said, "The activities of the CEC and the government have pushed the nation into an uncertainty when people have been waiting for a free and fair election."

SASP member-secretary Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, SCBA Secretary Advocate M Enayetur Rahim, and Advocates Layekuzzaman Mollah, Sirajul Haque, Ruhul Kuddus Babu, MA Kuddus, PC Guha, MA Halim, Mahbub Ali, and Sirajul Haq also spoke at the rally.

Later, the SASP leaders tried to bring out a procession from the Bar Association Bhaban, but police intercepted it in front of the National Eidgah gate.