CEC Nasir objects to three reform proposals, says independence will be curtailed

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has strongly criticised at least three recommendations made by the Electoral Reform Commission.

He particularly objected to transferring post-tenure investigations of the Election Commission to a parliamentary standing committee and creating separate independent authorities for boundary delimitation and voter registration.

The CEC warned that implementing these proposals would undermine the EC’s independence.

Speaking at an event titled “RFED Talk” organised by Reporters’ Forum for Election and Democracy at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Sunday, he discussed the commission’s stance on the recommendations and highlighted its preparations for the upcoming elections.

The Electoral Reform Commission, headed by Badiul Alam Majumdar, submitted its report on Jan 15 and is expected to submit its full report by Feb 15.

The preliminary report, containing 150 recommendations, has already been handed over to the chief advisor.

One of the proposals suggests that if election commissioners fail to fulfil their constitutional duties and violate their oath of office, a provision should be established to investigate any complaints raised after their tenure through a proposed parliamentary committee.

The committee would then send its findings and recommendations to the president for action.

Other recommendations call for the creation of an independent authority to handle future boundary delimitation and the establishment of a separate, autonomous body named the National Identity Registration Authority for voter registration.