I couldn’t speak freely

Mahbub Talukder

Staff Correspondent: Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder said, “I did not attend the press conference today because I could not speak freely.”
He made the remarks at a press conference at the Election Commission Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon yesterday.
“One might even ask where candidates get elected unopposed is any election at all,” he said.
He said that the biggest weakness of the Election Commission (EC) has been the lack of action against the allegations of irregularities and partiality of those affiliated with the polls. However, he added that there have been a few exceptions to that in the last few months of the incumbent EC.
“I don’t think whatever I said regarding the elections in the last five years has been able to make any difference,” he said.
“I have said it before that an EC formation law was a must. However, if the law isn’t acceptable to all political parties the crisis will not be solved,” he went on to say, adding, “But as a hopeful person, I would like to see the crisis solve”.