CEC's exit can facilitate things

But, what prompted him to make such a rash comment? Does such a comment go well with a CEC? Why will anybody bother to threaten him? Who is in need of threatening him? Election Commission (EC) is such an institution to whom all the people of a country look to for proper conduct of elections.

Chief Election Commissioner is the chief executive of that institution with whom lies the crucial responsibility of conducting free, fair and successful elections. Thus, no one is supposed to -- without cogent reason -- dare to speak ill of a CEC, let alone threaten him. I think the CEC is inventing enemies. He is, with his queer words and activities, antagonizing people of all sorts. He is also inventing his counterpart which is not only gratuitous but also distasteful. Concurrently, the CEC's expectation that the next general elections will be held under him is, I think, nothing but a wishful thinking.

EC is a constitutional body and its success lies in conducting inclusive elections. What is the utility of an Election Commission -- no matter how much exalted position it enjoys -- if a major portion of people, for that matter, political parties, opt for boycotting elections to be undertaken by that EC. What can a host do if the guests find it befitting not to attend his party as a rejoinder to his audacity? What can a teacher do if the students decide not to attend his classes for fault of the teacher? Many more of such eventualities can be mentioned where application of force can only invite ridicule and pity.

The constitution is, indeed, a sublime entity. But, is the constitution a bulwark for the lunatics and the tyrants? Is law for humans or humans are for law? May I ask -- with due respect to the dignity of the constitution -- whether the constitution is for people or people are for the constitution? These words should not be construed as derogatory to the supremacy of constitution but are expected to serve as message to the ones that keep on floundering on the strength of constitutional patronage.

Patriotic people of the country were heartened when the influential ministers of the ruling coalition -- very much in line with the concerns expressed by opposition parties and civil society people of all complexions -- aired their discomfiture with the subversive activities of the current CEC. Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Nazmul Huda and many more belonging to the ruling coalition expressed displeasure at the activities of the CEC. Even grassroots BNP leaders expressed their sheer annoyance with the CEC lately and observed that the CEC is in a sense taking away the ruling coalition's popularity.

Barrister Nazmul Huda, while talking to a private channel, even went on to comment that the CEC seems to be determined either to conduct free or fair elections or to shut down all ways to do so -- none of the CEC's activities, however, prove the former but rather suggest the latter. There were reports that stalwarts of the ruling coalition were going to take a positive step by requesting the aberrant CEC to take honourable exit. However, people's worries must have been augmented as the CEC is still continuing. with full vigour, probably to present us with some more -- as if not enough by now -- of his shoddy work.

Admittedly, each and every conscious citizen of the country is now worried about happenings regarding Election Commission (EC), the dialogue between the ruling party and the main opposition and the elections to be held in early 2007. Though the people want -- with their fingers crossed -- positive developments in the build-up to the next general elections, the country is still bogged down in the quagmire of uncertainty. The Gordian knot seems to be tightening with the passage of time. To my mind, the CEC issue is badly impacting the crisis. As the opposition parties have little confidence left in the CEC, they are, perhaps, not feeling safe to negotiate with the ruling coalition with the current CEC still in his position.

I believe the ruling coalition is also interested in the dialogue. I firmly believe the ruling coalition can, of course, cut the Gordian knot by persuading the CEC to step down. Such a move, I think, would bring double benefits for the ruling coalition. By that move, it will be able to project that it has caused removal of a person in whom there is no public confidence on the one hand and that it is interested in free and fair elections under a competent and committed CEC on the other. There is no question of bowing down to the demand of the opposition parties because the ruling coalition doesn't have confidence in the CEC either and he is, moreover, something of a burden for it.

Kazi SM Khasrul Alam Quddusi is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Chittagong.