A tough task ahead of EC as talks with parties end

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday completed its 56-day-long marathon dialogue with 40 registered political parties. The proposals put forward by the parties were mainly on election-time government, Army deployment, introduction of electronic voting machines and delimitation of constituencies. Commission sources said they would get only two months to assess and evaluate all the proposals to finalise recommendations before publishing them by December this year as per their roadmap. They have started working on the proposals as the time is limited. At least 25 parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Party, Workers' Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), Liberal Democratic Party, Islami Oikya Jote and the Bangladesh Torikat Federation, have proposed Army deployment, as they said it is essential for holding free and fair elections.

The Awami League, however, has not directly spoken about Army deployment. It has mentioned CrPC and army rules for the matter. Besides, 10 political parties proposed giving magistracy powers to the Army. Some, such as the Workers' Party, National Awami Party (NAP) and the Torikat Federation, suggested that the Army be deployed as a striking force.

The Jatiya Party (Monju) and the CPB left the issue of Army deployment to the EC.

However, the political parties are sharply divided over election-time government. And the EC has no authority to decide what sort of government will be there during the 11th parliamentary polls.

At least 19 political parties, including the BNP, BJP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Krishak Sramik Janata League, BML, Bangladesh NAP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Biplobi Workers' Party, Kalyan Party and the Khelafat Majlish, are against holding elections under the current government. They proposed that the polls should be held under a supportive, neutral, caretaker government after the dissolution of Parliament.

However, some parties, like the Awami League, BJP, Communist Party of Bangladesh and the Kalyan Party, did not propose election-time government, but said that the polls would be held as per the Constitution.

The chief election commissioner (CEC), KM Nurul Huda, has said several times that they do not have any authority regarding election-time government, as it is a matter to be decided by the government. He also said that he would, however, talk to the government in this regard.

 The third proposal that came to the fore of the dialogue was the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general election.

At least eight political parties, including the Awami League, JSD-Inu, Bangladesh Torikat Federation, Bangladesh Sammoyabadi Dal and the Islamic Front Bangladesh, proposed EVMs.

But the BNP, CPB, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Bangladesh NAP, Bangladesh Muslim League (BML), National People's Party (NPP), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jatiya Party (Monju) are against EVMs.

 However, the Workers' Party and Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League, BASAD are for EVMs on a limited scale with a guarantee, while the Liberal Democratic Party says they can be introduced if there is consensus among all political parities.

Before starting the dialogue, the CEC told journalists several times that the current commission would not go for EVMs unless all political parties reach a consensus. EC sources said it would be a tough decision for the commission.

 The fourth proposal that dominated the dialogue was the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.

The Awami League (AL), Jatiya Party (Monju), National Awami Party (NAP) and the Liberal Democratic Party are against delimitation. The Awami League said delimitation is related to population census and it might create legal complications as there is no current census.

The BNP, however, proposed restoration of parliamentary constituencies that were there before the general election in 2008.

In addition, the KSJL and the PDP proposed delimitation based on voters, while the Kalyan Party said delimitation should be through dialogue with all parties.

Another proposal was the inclusion of expatriate voters, as a large number of Bangladeshis lives abroad but they are deprived of casting votes.

At least 12 political parties, including the BNP, Gono Forum, NPP, BML, Gono Front, Bangladesh NAP and the BJP, have put forward the proposal before the EC.

Another proposal that reverberated several times was the introduction of online submission of nomination papers.

At least six parties, the CPB, NAP, NPP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish and the Bangladesh Sammoyabadi Dal, proposed  online submission of nominations papers to avoid violence while manually submitting papers.

Five political parties, the Bangladesh Sammoyabadi Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh NAP and the Islamic Front Bangladesh, proposed the introduction of "no vote" in the next polls.

In addition, the political parties proposed bringing important ministries, such as home and establishment and public administration, under the EC, denying of registration to a party involved in war crimes, preventing the use of religion in elections, resisting black money and muscle power, installing CCTVs at election centres, uniform campaign platform and posters, announcing results from the centres, making the Representation of the People Order in Bangla, ensuring transparency of observers, freedom of movement of print and electronic media persons as per rules and ensuring a level playing field.

The EC now has to decide what they would do because most of the political parties said they have full trust in the current commission, which would hold free, fair, neutral and participatory elections.

Many have appreciated the dialogue, which started on August 24 and ended on October 19. The earlier Rakib Uddin-led commission did not hold any dialogue. Election experts said the commission has now a mammoth task what they would now make the dialogue meaningful and acceptable to all through their recommendations.

CEC Nurul Huda, however, repeatedly said they would do whatever is possible as per rules and regulations.

 

A tough task ahead of EC as talks with parties end

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday completed its 56-day-long marathon dialogue with 40 registered political parties. The proposals put forward by the parties were mainly on election-time government, Army deployment, introduction of electronic voting machines and delimitation of constituencies. Commission sources said they would get only two months to assess and evaluate all the proposals to finalise recommendations before publishing them by December this year as per their roadmap. They have started working on the proposals as the time is limited. At least 25 parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Party, Workers Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), Liberal Democratic Party, Islami Oikya Jote and the Bangladesh Torikat Federation, have proposed Army deployment, as they said it is essential for holding free and fair elections. The Awami League, however, has not directly spoken about Army deployment. It has mentioned CrPC and army rules for the matter. Besides, 10 political parties proposed giving magistracy powers to the Army. Some, such as the Workers Party, National Awami Party (NAP) and the Torikat Federation, suggested that the Army be deployed as a striking force. The Jatiya Party (Monju) and the CPB left the issue of Army deployment to the EC. However, the political parties are sharply divided over election-time government. And the EC has no authority to decide what sort of government will be there during the 11th parliamentary polls. At least 19 political parties, including the BNP, BJP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Krishak Sramik Janata League, BML, Bangladesh NAP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Biplobi Workers Party, Kalyan Party and the Khelafat Majlish, are against holding elections under the current government. They proposed that the polls should be held under a supportive, neutral, caretaker government after the dissolution of Parliament. However, some parties, like the Awami League, BJP, Communist Party of Bangladesh and the Kalyan Party, did not propose election-time government, but said that the polls would be held as per the Constitution. The chief election commissioner (CEC), KM Nurul Huda, has said several times that they do not have any authority regarding election-time government, as it is a matter to be decided by the government. He also said that he would, however, talk to the government in this regard. The third proposal that came to the fore of the dialogue was the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general election. At least eight political parties, including the Awami League, JSD-Inu, Bangladesh Torikat Federation, Bangladesh Sammoyabadi Dal and the Islamic Front Bangladesh, proposed EVMs. But the BNP, CPB, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Bangladesh NAP, Bangladesh Muslim League (BML), National Peoples Party (NPP), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jatiya Party (Monju) are against EVMs. However, the Workers Party and Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League, BASAD are for EVMs on a limited scale with a guarantee, while the Liberal Democratic Party says they can be introduced if there is consensus among all political parities. Before starting the dialogue, the CEC told journalists several times that the current commission would not go for EVMs unless all political parties reach a consensus. EC sources said it would be a tough decision for the commission. The fourth proposal that dominated the dialogue was the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. The Awami League (AL), Jatiya Party (Monju), National Awami Party (NAP) and the Liberal Democratic Party are against delimitation. The Awami League said delimitation is related to population census and it might create legal complications as there is no current census. The BNP, however, proposed restoration of parliamentary constituencies that were there before the general election in 2008. In addition, the KSJL and the PDP proposed delimitation based on voters, while the Kalyan Party said delimitation should be through dialogue with all parties. Another proposal was the inclusion of expatriate voters, as a large number of Bangladeshis lives abroad but they are deprived of casting votes. At least 12 political parties, including the BNP, Gono Forum, NPP, BML, Gono Front, Bangladesh NAP and the BJP, have put forward the proposal before the EC. Another proposal that reverberated several times was the introduction of online submission of nomination papers. At least six parties, the CPB, NAP, NPP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish and the Bangladesh Sammoyabadi Dal, proposed online submission of nominations papers to avoid violence while manually submitting papers. Five political parties, the Bangladesh Sammoyabadi Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh NAP and the Islamic Front Bangladesh, proposed the introduction of no vote in the next polls. In addition, the political parties proposed bringing important ministries, such as home and establishment and public administration, under the EC, denying of registration to a party involved in war crimes, preventing the use of religion in elections, resisting black money and muscle power, installing CCTVs at election centres, uniform campaign platform and posters, announcing results from the centres, making the Representation of the People Order in Bangla, ensuring transparency of observers, freedom of movement of print and electronic media persons as per rules and ensuring a level playing field. The EC now has to decide what they would do because most of the political parties said they have full trust in the current commission, which would hold free, fair, neutral and participatory elections. Many have appreciated the dialogue, which started on August 24 and ended on October 19. The earlier Rakib Uddin-led commission did not hold any dialogue. Election experts said the commission has now a mammoth task what they would now make the dialogue meaningful and acceptable to all through their recommendations. CEC Nurul Huda, however, repeatedly said they would do whatever is possible as per rules and regulations.