EC to begin its talks from tomorrow

The Election Commission (EC) will begin discussions on the next parliamentary election with the representatives of the civil society from Monday. The 11th parliamentary election will be held in 2019. EC sources said they wanted to hold the next polls in a free, fair and credible manner, leaving no room for doubts about the EC’s role. The commission has already announced its roadmap for the next general election. It is focusing on seven specific issues such as electoral law review and reforms, discussions with stakeholders, suggestions to make the electoral process befitting of the times, delimitation of constituencies, making a correct and updated voters’ list, the setting up of polling stations according to the law, completion of the registration of new political parties, auditing the accounts of registered political parties, and building the capacity of officials to hold a fair national election.

The commission will continue its discussions till October with political party representatives, election management experts, journalists, observers and women’s rights organisations. Representatives from 59 civil society organizations are expected to attend the first meeting the EC will hold at 3pm at the EC secretariat in the city, said EC Public Relations Director SM Asaduzzaman. Advisers to the former caretaker government, university professors, media personalities and lawyers have been invited to the meeting, he said.

According to the dialogue schedule, chief election commissioner Nurul Huda will deliver a 15-minute introductory speech and a 5-minute closing speech.

The civil society members will be asked to speak on seven issues—Representation of the People Order 1972 and the Delimitation of Constituencies Ordinance 1976, use of illegal money and force in elections, finalisation of territorial areas of constituencies based the number of voters, area, administrative

integrity and ease of communication through the use of digital technologies, the updating and reforming of the legal framework to make elections easier, recommendations for the preparation and distribution of correct a voters’ list, suggestions to establish new polling centres and increase their efficiency, and proposals to register new political parties and audit the ones already registered.

EC to begin its talks from tomorrow

The Election Commission (EC) will begin discussions on the next parliamentary election with the representatives of the civil society from Monday. The 11th parliamentary election will be held in 2019. EC sources said they wanted to hold the next polls in a free, fair and credible manner, leaving no room for doubts about the ECs role. The commission has already announced its roadmap for the next general election. It is focusing on seven specific issues such as electoral law review and reforms, discussions with stakeholders, suggestions to make the electoral process befitting of the times, delimitation of constituencies, making a correct and updated voters list, the setting up of polling stations according to the law, completion of the registration of new political parties, auditing the accounts of registered political parties, and building the capacity of officials to hold a fair national election. The commission will continue its discussions till October with political party representatives, election management experts, journalists, observers and womens rights organisations. Representatives from 59 civil society organizations are expected to attend the first meeting the EC will hold at 3pm at the EC secretariat in the city, said EC Public Relations Director SM Asaduzzaman. Advisers to the former caretaker government, university professors, media personalities and lawyers have been invited to the meeting, he said. According to the dialogue schedule, chief election commissioner Nurul Huda will deliver a 15-minute introductory speech and a 5-minute closing speech. The civil society members will be asked to speak on seven issuesRepresentation of the People Order 1972 and the Delimitation of Constituencies Ordinance 1976, use of illegal money and force in elections, finalisation of territorial areas of constituencies based the number of voters, area, administrative integrity and ease of communication through the use of digital technologies, the updating and reforming of the legal framework to make elections easier, recommendations for the preparation and distribution of correct a voters list, suggestions to establish new polling centres and increase their efficiency, and proposals to register new political parties and audit the ones already registered.