DHAKA, 5 November 2006 — Despite pleas from the interim government that he resign to end an impasse jeopardizing next January’s elections, Bangladesh’s chief election commissioner refused to resign yesterday, an official here said.
“The consensus among the advisers of the caretaker government is that the chief election commissioner should step down,” one of the government’s ten-member advisory council, effectively the Cabinet, told AFP.
“Two advisers have already met him with the message. But he seems to have stood firm to continue his job,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The adviser said under the constitution it was virtually impossible to remove the chief election commissioner, M.A. Aziz, against his will.
“If he does not step down on his own...the caretaker government will have to think of how the commissioner can continue without it affecting the holding of free and fair elections,” the adviser added.
Aziz, in charge of organizing January’s parliamentary elections, is accused by the 14-party opposition of being biased in favor of the outgoing Bangladesh National Party (BNP)-led government whose five-year mandate ended just over a week ago.
The main opposition party, the Awami League, alleges the commission has rigged voter lists and on Friday gave the caretaker government seven more days to remove him. Violent protests suspended earlier this week by the opposition resulted in at least 24 deaths and more than 2,000 were injured.
The opposition has threatened more demonstrations if Aziz is not sacked and may also boycott the polls.
The removal of Aziz is a key demand in the 11-point list submitted by the opposition.
“We have given you seven days during which we want to see that you implement all our 11 demands,” Hasina Wajed, leader of the Awami League party, told a rally attended by 100,000 supporters Friday.
