Asked if he is worried about consequences faced by predecessors, CEC sees ‘nothing scary’

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin says he does not fear facing consequences similar to that of his two predecessors.

Responding to a question on Wednesday, the day before the election, he said he has been working in line with his pledge to deliver a free, fair and credible election.

Two former chief election commissioners who served during the Awami League government—under whom three “controversial” elections were held as the party consolidated its hold on power—are now in jail facing different allegations.

Whenever questions arise over decisions by the current commission, many bring up the fate of former CECs KM Nurul Huda and Kazi Habibul Awal. The issue was also raised during a briefing for foreign journalists and observers before the polls.

At the briefing, a Bangladeshi journalist asked how the situation of the two former CECs made the current CEC “feel”.

In response, Nasir Uddin said: “Although it’s not relevant to the current briefing, I’ll say this—whatever we’ve done so far, the pledges we made to the nation–to give a free, non-partisan and credible election, we’ll ensure it.”

“We are working towards that goal within the framework of the law, within our constitutional obligations, and keeping our pledge in view. For that reason, we have no cause for fear.”