Editorial
CEC's paradoxical stand on talks with the BNP
EC must see the reality, talk to both factions
THE Chief Election Commissioner has, as we understand, invited the two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to tea today, separately of course. In light of the fact that earlier he ruled out the possibility of inviting both factions of the party to a dialogue, this is encouraging news. We, however, feel that the Election Commission should issue formal invitations to both factions to the dialogue it has initiated with the political parties. Given that the caretaker government itself has initiated a move to talk to the Delwar-led group as well as the pro-reform faction of the party, the stand adopted by ATM Shamsul Huda smacks of a paradox. The point is simple: if the government can go for a political dialogue with both groups, what prevents the Election Commission from doing the same to ensure smooth elections? Besides, it must be remembered that the roots of the present problem regarding the BNP lie in the earlier, obviously ill-considered move by the EC to invite the pro-reform faction of the BNP to the talks. It was that move which led to the present impasse; and the CEC cannot absolve himself or his colleagues over their role in the making of the crisis. It was a mistake which the CEC is yet to acknowledge.
The CEC is likely to be guided by the High Court's recent dismissal of a petition by Khaleda Zia loyalists. The Election Commission must know, or should be informed, that the HC verdict does not in any way preclude it from exchanging views with both groups. It is the political realities the CEC and his colleagues must not miss. And one big reality is that a very substantial number of people in the BNP, including former MPs and local level leaders, remain loyal to their detained chairperson and so are strongly behind the party secretary general appointed by her. In such a situation, for the CEC to focus on the Saifur Rahman-led faction and ignore the other one led by Delwar can only exacerbate the crisis and lead to a further questioning of the EC's credibility. The CEC argues that his inviting both factions to the talks would tantamount to encouraging divisiveness in the party. But by calling one side he has exactly done what he didn't want to do. Election Commission cannot take cover behind a thin veneer of legality. If it does, it will be accused, not without reason, of playing politics with the election agenda.
The job for the Election Commission, as we see it, is cut out. It must do everything to ensure that the country can have free, fair and transparent general elections at the end of this year. That means it has a moral responsibility to speak to all political forces, including the two factions of the BNP. It cannot alienate politicians more than it has already. It must go for damage control. It has to act from a high moral ground as an independent body and invite the BNP, all of it, to the talks on electoral reforms.
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