Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Friday said the Election Commission, no matter how stronger it is, will turn helpless if the national election is held under a partisan government.

“The country’s election experiences suggest no Election Commission can work neutrally under partisan government. The culture is yet to develop here to allow the Commission to work independently under such an administration,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club arranged by Swadhinata Forum, on the occasion of the Victory Day.

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, welcomed Awami League’s announcement that they will accept the Commission to be formed by the President after discussions with political parties.

He also hoped that President Abdul Hamid will constitute the Election Commission considering the proposals to be presented by BNP and other political parties during the dialogue with him. “It’ll be the first step towards bringing back a democratic atmosphere.”

Moudud, however, thinks the main important thing is to decide under which nature of government the election will be held.

About the government’s plan to restore the parliament’s original design, Moudud said the main motive behind bringing Louis I Kahn's main design of parliament is to remove Ziaur Rahman’s grave. “It’s an ill-conceived plan.”

He also warned that it will be a political blunder of the government if it relocates Zia’s grave. “It’ll also expose the government’s meanness.”