Elections won’t be legitimate without participation of main parties

The legitimacy of the upcoming national election will "go down to zero" if major political parties do not nominate candidates for the polls, according to CEC Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.

During a press conference conducted at his office on Thursday morning, the CEC also mentioned that it is the biggest barrier to a free and fair election.   

He asserted that if the major political parties abstain, there won't be a legality problem but that the legitimacy of the election will suffer.

He urged the "two big political parties" to hold talks in order to resolve the ongoing political crisis.

It is impossible to ensure fully free and fair elections, he added, whether electronic voting machines or paper ballots are used.

Habibul countered that if an EVM was used, the voting would be safe.

The BNP has vowed to abstain from voting if the elections are held while the current Awami League government is in power.

It is anticipated that the national election will be held at the end of this year or in the first few months of 2024.

Since the second half of last year, the party has been promoting its 10-point demand, which calls for the resignation of the AL government and the holding of elections under the supervision of a caretaker government.