The Election Commission (EC) has nothing to do with the participation of Khaleda Zia in the next general elections, said the organisation.
It (the decision) totally depends on court, said EC's acting Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed on Wednesday.
He came up with this comment in reply to a query from journalists. He briefed media at Nirbachan Bhaban after the visiting European Parliamentary (EP) team, led by Chair of the South Asia Delegation of the EU Parliamentary Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs Jean Lambert, met the CEC.
UNB adds: "The CEC told them that it's a matter of the court. If the court allows (her to participate in the election), the EC has nothing to do. And if the court doesn't allow, the EC will have no role as well," EC acting secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said.
As an EP delegation member wanted to know over the matter, the CEC told them that the Commission will do everything as per the Constitution and law, the EC acting secretary said replying to a question from reporters.
About the recently held presidential election, the CEC said Members of Parliament (MPs) elect the President. The election has gone uncontested as there was only one candidate, Helaluddin said.
However, he said, the present political situation or the matter of election violence did not come up for discussions at the meeting.
The EC acting Secretary said they actually wanted to know about the country's electoral process like who bear expenditures for arrangement of election.
In reply, the Commission said the government bears the expenditures according to the demand.
The EC acting secretary and its joint secretary (in-charge) SM Asaduzzaman were present at the meeting.
AIMD
