CEC says after meeting US envoyElection will be on time, no matter what situation arises

The Election Commission has no option but to hold the national election on time as per the constitution, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said today.

“The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation arises," the CEC told journalists after emerging from a meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas.

The CEC said, the issue of favorable election environment and preparations for the upcoming national election were discussed during the meeting with the US ambassador.

“We want all political parties to participate in the election. This, however, does not mean that the election will not be held if the environment is not favorable,” the CEC said.

“Political parties have many options. They can either participate in or boycott the election, but the Election Commission does not have any such option,” he added.

The CEC said, the US ambassador hoped for dialogue among the political parties. “We expressed the same,” the CEC said.

Problems will not be solved by demonstration of force on the streets. “He (US Ambassador Peter Haas) also believes that the problems should be solved through dialogue,” the Chief Election Commissioner said.