Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Monday (January 1) said if the upcoming parliamentary polls are resisted through violence, crisis will arise.

The CEC was speaking at the opening ceremony of a training workshop for judicial magistrates on law and regulations on the occasion of the 12th general election. The event was organised at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital. 

“If any crisis arises must be faced, because the election has to be held at the scheduled time following law,” he said.

Awal said, “We expected an involvement of all in the election. But, a section of the political leadership boycotted the polls. They are speaking out against the election peacefully and there is no problem here. 

“If the election is resisted by resorting to violence or voters are barred, a crisis will certainly arise.”

Many said it would have been better if the election was postponed by three months as the political parties could not reach an understanding, he said. “But, the Election Commission has no jurisdiction to postpone it.”

BDST: 1519 HRS, JAN 01, 2024
MSK/SMS