Role of CEC
While so much controversy was raging concerning the three by-elections held recently, the absence of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on long leave is quite surprising.
It is not understood why the government had allowed the CEC to go on leave just before the by-elections. Holding elections is the primary responsibility of the CEC.
It may be recalled that when Mr. Syed was appointed to this post, the then opposition party, the BNP was opposed to it and they tried to have the decision changed. Subsequently, they accepted him. We do not know how this change of attitude came about! In the general election-2001, the BNP came out victorious and the Awami League thought that the EC was biased towards the former ! It is indeed difficult to fathom the intentions and motives of the political parties.
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