EC failing to act independently: Porwar 

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Wednesday said that despite the Election Commission's extensive constitutional powers, it has failed to exercise its authority independently in recent months.

JAMAAT'S 9 PROPOSALS TO EC INCLUDE
*    Barring office-bearers of banned political parties in contesting local govt elections, 
*    Disqualifying politically appointed officials from participating in such polls
*    Prohibiting ministers and MPs from campaigning in non-partisan local government elections
*    Cancelling contractual appointment of Additional Secretary Shamsul Alam at the EC Secretariat

Porwar made the remarks during a meeting between a six-member Jamaat delegation, led by him, and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) along with other Election Commissioners at the Election Commission Secretariat in Dhaka.

The Jamaat-e-Islami submitted a nine-point proposal to the Election Commission, urging the constitutional body to uphold its independence and ensure free, fair and credible local government elections. The party also expressed concern over several recent decisions taken by the Commission.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Porwar said one of the party's key demands was the cancellation of the contractual appointment of Additional Secretary Shamsul Alam at the Election Commission Secretariat. Jamaat alleged that Alam had previously been affiliated with a political party and argued that his appointment could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of future elections.

According to Porwar, Election Commission officials informed the delegation that the appointment had been made by the government and assured them that Jamaat's concerns would be conveyed to the relevant authorities.

The delegation also opposed the Election Commission's proposal to bar teachers of MPO-listed schools, colleges and madrasas from contesting local government elections, describing it as discriminatory and inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of equality.

Jamaat said the Commission assured the delegation that the proposal would be reviewed. Porwar also criticised ministers for publicly commenting on the schedule of local government elections, saying that only the Election Commission has the constitutional authority to announce election dates.

He further questioned the Commission's decision to publish the gazette notification declaring BNP candidate Sarwar Alam elected from the Chattogram-2 constituency immediately after the Supreme Court verdict, alleging that the Commission had acted before receiving the signed court order.

The party also proposed barring office-bearers of political parties banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act from contesting local government elections, disqualifying politically appointed officials from participating in such polls, and prohibiting ministers and Members of Parliament from campaigning in non-partisan local government elections.

Among those present at the meeting were Jamaat leaders A.H.M Hamidur Rahman Azad, Ahsanul Mahbub Zubair, Jasim Uddin Sarkar and Adv. Shishir Mohammad Monir. Besides the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Tahmida Ahmed, as well as EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, also attended the meeting.