Dissolve House after poll announcement

Biplabi Workers’ Party at EC dialogue

Leaders of the Bangladesh Biplabi Workers’ Party yesterday demanded the dissolution of parliament after the announcement of the election schedule. They argued that it would ensure a level playing field for the poll candidates.

“We have suggested to the Election Commission (EC) that parliament should be dissolved once the poll schedule is announced. That would ensure a level playing field for the participants,” Saiful Huq, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Biplabi Workers’ Party, told journalists after meeting EC officials at Election Bhaban in Dhaka.

In the current election system is followed, the parliament will not be dissolved when the 11th parliamentary polls are held.

The party placed 23 proposals before the EC, which was led by Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda. The proposals included an independent and empowered EC, the EC playing the caretaker’s role once the poll schedule is announced, bringing the civil administration, armed forces, the cabinet, the home ministry, the public administration, finance, and the local government under the EC’s control, and not appointing the deputy commissioner as the returning officer since the DC is appointed under political consideration.

The proposals also include direct votes to reserved seats, controlling black money and muscle power, the introduction of no-vote, not using religion for political purposes, voting rights to expatriate voters, not introducing EVM, and the online submission of nomination.

Saiful Huq said, “The EC has told us that most of our proposals are under their jurisdiction. They have given importance to our proposals. They will take effective steps in this regard following their rules and regulations.”

“The EC told us that the proposals that need political consensus will be discussed with every party, including the ruling one,” he added.

Regarding army deployment, he said, “We want the army to be deployed so that a secure environment can be ensured during elections.”

He said the EC must show its courage by holding free, fair, participatory, and credible elections.

“People will not accept another election like the one held on January 5, 2014. It did not have the people’s mandate and it was uncontested.

We believe the EC will take the initiative to regain people’s trust in the elections by exercising the constitutional power and showing courage and integrity,” he added.

 

 

 

Dissolve House after poll announcement

Biplabi Workers Party at EC dialogue

Leaders of the Bangladesh Biplabi Workers Party yesterday demanded the dissolution of parliament after the announcement of the election schedule. They argued that it would ensure a level playing field for the poll candidates. We have suggested to the Election Commission (EC) that parliament should be dissolved once the poll schedule is announced. That would ensure a level playing field for the participants, Saiful Huq, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Biplabi Workers Party, told journalists after meeting EC officials at Election Bhaban in Dhaka. In the current election system is followed, the parliament will not be dissolved when the 11th parliamentary polls are held. The party placed 23 proposals before the EC, which was led by Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda. The proposals included an independent and empowered EC, the EC playing the caretakers role once the poll schedule is announced, bringing the civil administration, armed forces, the cabinet, the home ministry, the public administration, finance, and the local government under the ECs control, and not appointing the deputy commissioner as the returning officer since the DC is appointed under political consideration. The proposals also include direct votes to reserved seats, controlling black money and muscle power, the introduction of no-vote, not using religion for political purposes, voting rights to expatriate voters, not introducing EVM, and the online submission of nomination. Saiful Huq said, The EC has told us that most of our proposals are under their jurisdiction. They have given importance to our proposals. They will take effective steps in this regard following their rules and regulations. The EC told us that the proposals that need political consensus will be discussed with every party, including the ruling one, he added. Regarding army deployment, he said, We want the army to be deployed so that a secure environment can be ensured during elections. He said the EC must show its courage by holding free, fair, participatory, and credible elections. People will not accept another election like the one held on January 5, 2014. It did not have the peoples mandate and it was uncontested. We believe the EC will take the initiative to regain peoples trust in the elections by exercising the constitutional power and showing courage and integrity, he added.