Chief election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal’s latest plea to the parties to take initiatives to solve the ongoing political crisis is quite intriguing. Though his admission that a political crisis really exists is at odds with the government’s claim of a conducive environment, his argument that the commission neither has the capacity nor the mandate to resolve it is only reneging itself of authority and responsibility. If it believes that there’s a crisis which makes ensuring a free and fair election impossible, how can it justify proceeding with holding an election without resolving the crisis?  The EC’s much publicised dialogue with all the registered parties took place after the 90-days countdown began till the 12th national election. Now the EC stands to have sufficient legal authority to ask the executive branch for taking all necessary steps to create a fair and competitive environment. Many observers had thought that, ahead of the dialogue the EC would take required steps ...