Political parties vie for controversy-free polls

EC’s dialogue with political parties kicks off today

The country’s minor political parties want the Election Commission (EC) to hold the next parliamentary polls in a manner that would be free of controversies at home and abroad—unlike last general election held in 2014.

They expect the commission to arrange a general election that would be free, fair, participatory and credible, in which all parties would get a level playing field, and voters would be able to cast their votes without fear.

The party leaders said they had full confidence in the current EC and expected it to exercise its full authority in the next parliamentary poll by enforcing the rules and regulations.

Some of the leaders of the minor registered political parties said they would place several proposals including that of army deployment, having a level playing field, prevention of the use of black money and muscle power, and delimitation, when they hold a dialogue with the commission today. Though the EC was to first talk with the Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) today, party sources said they would not be able to participate, as they had scheduled a programme of relief distribution among flood victims in Jamalpur.

EC sources said, though the BNF would not be available for talks in the morning, a meeting would be with the Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote at 3pm today. Other schedules would remain the same, it said.

BNF president SM Abul Kalam Azad told The Independent, “We will not participate in the dialogue on Thursday. We have our scheduled programme for the day. We have sought time for the dialogue at any time within a month.”

But, he added, his party would propose to the commission the restructuring of the constituencies in accordance with their population and to add another 50 parliamentary seats with direct votes to make the total number 400.

He also said that the BNF would propose a reduction in the number of registered political parties, if they propagated the same ideals.

About army deployment, he said, “The Army is part of the people. If the Army can work in development activities and in disaster management, why should it not work to ensure people’s security during elections?”

Ganotontri Party general secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain said, “We want a free, fair, participatory and credible election.”

“We have full trust in the EC. We expect it would hold a credible poll without any controversy. We don’t want any elections like that of Jan 5, 2014,” he said.

About Army deployment, he said, “The law is there regarding the deployment of law enforcers in the polls to ensure a peaceful environment. The EC will decide whether the Army is necessary or not.”

Ameer of Khelafat Majlish Maulana Mohammad Ishaque said, “We expect the current EC would not be like the previous Rakibuddin Commission. They should play an impartial role. They should maintain their honour and prestige.”

The commission would work to hold a free and fair election, he said, adding that the EC had to earn the trust of all, including that of the political parties.

About delimitation, he said, “We will propose not to delimit the constituencies now. If the process starts now, many aggrieved persons would file cases in courts and it would then create a complication during the election.”

About EC’s dialogue as per it declared roadmap, he said, “Some say the dialogues are a mere show. But we want to place our trust in them. Their activities would prove how much they can do.”

The EC would hold dialogues with 40 registered political parties over a period of time. They have already fixed the schedule for talks with 12 parties.

The commission would hold talks with six parities before Eid-ul-Azha and with six more parties after Eid.

On August 28, the dialogue would be with the Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) at 11am and the Khelafat Majlish at 3pm.

On August 30 the EC would have a meeting with the Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party at 11am and Jatiya Gonotantrik Party at 3pm.

After the Eid, on September 10, the EC will hold talks with the Bangladesh Islami Front at 11am and the Islami Andolon at 3pm.

On September 12, the dialogue will be with the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish at 11am and the Islami Oikya Jote at 3pm.

On September 14, it will be the Kalyan Party at 11am and the Islamic Front Bangladesh at 3pm.

Earlier, on July 31, the commission had begun holding dialogues with members of the civil society and, later, with representatives of the print and electronic media on Aug 16 and 17 respectively.

The EC is holding the dialogues as per its election roadmap, seeking opinions of different stakeholders to make the next parliamentary polls free and fair.

 

Political parties vie for controversy-free polls

ECs dialogue with political parties kicks off today

The countrys minor political parties want the Election Commission (EC) to hold the next parliamentary polls in a manner that would be free of controversies at home and abroadunlike last general election held in 2014. They expect the commission to arrange a general election that would be free, fair, participatory and credible, in which all parties would get a level playing field, and voters would be able to cast their votes without fear. The party leaders said they had full confidence in the current EC and expected it to exercise its full authority in the next parliamentary poll by enforcing the rules and regulations. Some of the leaders of the minor registered political parties said they would place several proposals including that of army deployment, having a level playing field, prevention of the use of black money and muscle power, and delimitation, when they hold a dialogue with the commission today. Though the EC was to first talk with the Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) today, party sources said they would not be able to participate, as they had scheduled a programme of relief distribution among flood victims in Jamalpur. EC sources said, though the BNF would not be available for talks in the morning, a meeting would be with the Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote at 3pm today. Other schedules would remain the same, it said. BNF president SM Abul Kalam Azad told The Independent, We will not participate in the dialogue on Thursday. We have our scheduled programme for the day. We have sought time for the dialogue at any time within a month. But, he added, his party would propose to the commission the restructuring of the constituencies in accordance with their population and to add another 50 parliamentary seats with direct votes to make the total number 400. He also said that the BNF would propose a reduction in the number of registered political parties, if they propagated the same ideals. About army deployment, he said, The Army is part of the people. If the Army can work in development activities and in disaster management, why should it not work to ensure peoples security during elections? Ganotontri Party general secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain said, We want a free, fair, participatory and credible election. We have full trust in the EC. We expect it would hold a credible poll without any controversy. We dont want any elections like that of Jan 5, 2014, he said. About Army deployment, he said, The law is there regarding the deployment of law enforcers in the polls to ensure a peaceful environment. The EC will decide whether the Army is necessary or not. Ameer of Khelafat Majlish Maulana Mohammad Ishaque said, We expect the current EC would not be like the previous Rakibuddin Commission. They should play an impartial role. They should maintain their honour and prestige. The commission would work to hold a free and fair election, he said, adding that the EC had to earn the trust of all, including that of the political parties. About delimitation, he said, We will propose not to delimit the constituencies now. If the process starts now, many aggrieved persons would file cases in courts and it would then create a complication during the election. About ECs dialogue as per it declared roadmap, he said, Some say the dialogues are a mere show. But we want to place our trust in them. Their activities would prove how much they can do. The EC would hold dialogues with 40 registered political parties over a period of time. They have already fixed the schedule for talks with 12 parties. The commission would hold talks with six parities before Eid-ul-Azha and with six more parties after Eid. On August 28, the dialogue would be with the Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) at 11am and the Khelafat Majlish at 3pm. On August 30 the EC would have a meeting with the Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party at 11am and Jatiya Gonotantrik Party at 3pm. After the Eid, on September 10, the EC will hold talks with the Bangladesh Islami Front at 11am and the Islami Andolon at 3pm. On September 12, the dialogue will be with the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish at 11am and the Islami Oikya Jote at 3pm. On September 14, it will be the Kalyan Party at 11am and the Islamic Front Bangladesh at 3pm. Earlier, on July 31, the commission had begun holding dialogues with members of the civil society and, later, with representatives of the print and electronic media on Aug 16 and 17 respectively. The EC is holding the dialogues as per its election roadmap, seeking opinions of different stakeholders to make the next parliamentary polls free and fair.