Political parties sceptical about dialogue with EC

Political parties say they will consider their dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) to have been meaningful only if their proposals are properly incorporated in the commission’s final recommendations. As per the EC’s schedule, the commission is to sit with 40 registered political parties to get their views on the ways to hold free and fair elections. It has already completed its dialogue with at least 23 parties, but the process is yet to gain momentum.

The EC has so far held talks with small political parties, many of which do not directly participate in the national elections.Even the media coverage of these political parties is said to be poor.

Leaders of different political parties said they have full faith in the current commission, but wanted to see their proposals reflected in the actions and activities of the poll panel to create an environment for a free, fair and neutral general election.

EC sources said they are listening to the proposals of the political parties, the EC’s biggest stakeholders. They also said the EC has to consider the proposals of the political parties to make the dialogue meaningful.

“The dialogue is a complete eyewash. The election will be held the way the government wants. We can't trust the EC to be able to hold a free and fair poll,” Syed Bahadur Shah Mojaddedi, chairman of the Islamic Front Bangladesh,  told The Independent last week.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh joint secretary ATM Hemayet Uddin said: “The EC is doing its routine work. We hope they will consider the proposals properly.”

“The dialogue would not be meaningful if the EC fails to take up the major points to hold free and fair polls. We hope it would make arrangements for fair and participatory polls,” he added.

EC officials said the dialogue is not gaining momentum, though the commission, led by chief election commissioner Nurul Huda, is devoting much time to the smaller parties.

A number of political parties are sceptical about the dialogue with the EC being meaningful. They are not sure if the poll panel would be able to exercise its powers to hold a peaceful and fair poll.

The EC also held dialogues with two political parties—Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) and Jaker Party last week.

After teh t6alks, BASAD general secretary Khalekuzzaman said the current commission would face various challenges in holding the next parliamentary polls, as the previous election had not been fully acceptable to political parties.

He said he expected the EC to hold free, fair and participatory polls. The party has placed a number of proposals before the commission, he added.

The proposals included limiting election expenditure to Tk. 10 lakh, the strengthening of the EC with its own manpower to hold polls in order to free it from executive intervention, introduction of EVMs on a limited scale, prevention of black money and muscle power in elections, and the holding of the polls under a government that would only carry out routine work.

 

 

Political parties sceptical about dialogue with EC

Political parties say they will consider their dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) to have been meaningful only if their proposals are properly incorporated in the commissions final recommendations. As per the ECs schedule, the commission is to sit with 40 registered political parties to get their views on the ways to hold free and fair elections. It has already completed its dialogue with at least 23 parties, but the process is yet to gain momentum. The EC has so far held talks with small political parties, many of which do not directly participate in the national elections.Even the media coverage of these political parties is said to be poor. Leaders of different political parties said they have full faith in the current commission, but wanted to see their proposals reflected in the actions and activities of the poll panel to create an environment for a free, fair and neutral general election. EC sources said they are listening to the proposals of the political parties, the ECs biggest stakeholders. They also said the EC has to consider the proposals of the political parties to make the dialogue meaningful. The dialogue is a complete eyewash. The election will be held the way the government wants. We cant trust the EC to be able to hold a free and fair poll, Syed Bahadur Shah Mojaddedi, chairman of the Islamic Front Bangladesh, told The Independent last week. Islami Andolon Bangladesh joint secretary ATM Hemayet Uddin said: The EC is doing its routine work. We hope they will consider the proposals properly. The dialogue would not be meaningful if the EC fails to take up the major points to hold free and fair polls. We hope it would make arrangements for fair and participatory polls, he added. EC officials said the dialogue is not gaining momentum, though the commission, led by chief election commissioner Nurul Huda, is devoting much time to the smaller parties. A number of political parties are sceptical about the dialogue with the EC being meaningful. They are not sure if the poll panel would be able to exercise its powers to hold a peaceful and fair poll. The EC also held dialogues with two political partiesBangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) and Jaker Party last week. After teh t6alks, BASAD general secretary Khalekuzzaman said the current commission would face various challenges in holding the next parliamentary polls, as the previous election had not been fully acceptable to political parties. He said he expected the EC to hold free, fair and participatory polls. The party has placed a number of proposals before the commission, he added. The proposals included limiting election expenditure to Tk. 10 lakh, the strengthening of the EC with its own manpower to hold polls in order to free it from executive intervention, introduction of EVMs on a limited scale, prevention of black money and muscle power in elections, and the holding of the polls under a government that would only carry out routine work.