July 31 Dialogue on next polls

EC plans to invite 50 civil society members

The Election Commission (EC) plans to invite at least 50 eminent civil society personalities for a dialogue on July 31 to seek their opinions and suggestions regarding the 11thparliamentary polls. EC sources said the list would be finalised today and the invitation letters would be sent by July 20. Among those likely to be invited are former advisers to the caretaker government, professors of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, former government secretaries, former high-ranking police officers, social development workers and columnists.

The preliminary list has the names of former advisers to the caretaker government. These include Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Advocate Sultana Kamal, M Hafizuddin, Hossain Zillur Rahman, Rasheda K Chowdhury, retired judge Abdur Rashid, Emeritus Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Prof. Syed Anwar Hossain, former University Grants Commission chairman AK Azad Chowdhury, Prof. Syed Manzoorul Islam, former election commissioner Brig. Gen. M Sakhawat Hossain, former Dhaka University vice-chancellor SMA Fayez, Badiul Alam Mujumder, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Prof. Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque and former IGP Nurul Huda.

“We will hold a dialogue with civil society members on July 31 as part of the election roadmap. Our target is to invite at least 50 persons. We will send the letters on July 20,” EC secretary Muhammad Abdullah told The Independent yesterday.

He said the commission expected the meeting to be fruitful, as various suggestions and opinions coming from civil society members would help it hold a fair and participatory general election.

 Meanwhile, the EC has finalised its seven-point roadmap to hold the next parliamentary polls.  As part of the roadmap, the EC has lined up several such dialogues with media personalities, registered political party leaders, election observers, women leaders and election experts.

After its dialogue with civil society members on July 31, the EC would meet media personalities in August. However, the date is yet to be finalised.

Later, the EC will hold a series of meetings with political party leaders, the biggest stakeholders, from August to September. But the dates have not been finalised yet.

The EC has arranged such dialogues with different stakeholders because they are expected to point out the positive and negative aspects of the electoral mechanism. The EC also feels such talks will also help the panel in working on the legal framework and its amendments.

EC sources said the suggestions from all the stakeholders would be carefully noted and many of their directions would be included in final recommendations of the EC for holding the general election. Several civil society members told The Independent that they would participate in the dialogue planned by the EC to give their views. They said they would not make any comments before getting the EC’s invitation.

July 31 Dialogue on next polls

EC plans to invite 50 civil society members

The Election Commission (EC) plans to invite at least 50 eminent civil society personalities for a dialogue on July 31 to seek their opinions and suggestions regarding the 11thparliamentary polls. EC sources said the list would be finalised today and the invitation letters would be sent by July 20. Among those likely to be invited are former advisers to the caretaker government, professors of Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University, former government secretaries, former high-ranking police officers, social development workers and columnists. The preliminary list has the names of former advisers to the caretaker government. These include Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Advocate Sultana Kamal, M Hafizuddin, Hossain Zillur Rahman, Rasheda K Chowdhury, retired judge Abdur Rashid, Emeritus Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Prof. Syed Anwar Hossain, former University Grants Commission chairman AK Azad Chowdhury, Prof. Syed Manzoorul Islam, former election commissioner Brig. Gen. M Sakhawat Hossain, former Dhaka University vice-chancellor SMA Fayez, Badiul Alam Mujumder, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Prof. Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque and former IGP Nurul Huda. We will hold a dialogue with civil society members on July 31 as part of the election roadmap. Our target is to invite at least 50 persons. We will send the letters on July 20, EC secretary Muhammad Abdullah told The Independent yesterday. He said the commission expected the meeting to be fruitful, as various suggestions and opinions coming from civil society members would help it hold a fair and participatory general election. Meanwhile, the EC has finalised its seven-point roadmap to hold the next parliamentary polls. As part of the roadmap, the EC has lined up several such dialogues with media personalities, registered political party leaders, election observers, women leaders and election experts. After its dialogue with civil society members on July 31, the EC would meet media personalities in August. However, the date is yet to be finalised. Later, the EC will hold a series of meetings with political party leaders, the biggest stakeholders, from August to September. But the dates have not been finalised yet. The EC has arranged such dialogues with different stakeholders because they are expected to point out the positive and negative aspects of the electoral mechanism. The EC also feels such talks will also help the panel in working on the legal framework and its amendments. EC sources said the suggestions from all the stakeholders would be carefully noted and many of their directions would be included in final recommendations of the EC for holding the general election. Several civil society members told The Independent that they would participate in the dialogue planned by the EC to give their views. They said they would not make any comments before getting the ECs invitation.