Sakhawat for ensuring accountability of govt officials during polls

Textiles and Jute Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain today emphasised empowering the Election Commission (EC) to ensure accountability of all ministries and officials concerned during election.

"Government interference on the Election Commission should be stopped. . . Provision should also be kept for not getting party nomination before three years following retirement from government service," the shipping adviser said at a seminar on 'How to Reform the Electoral System' organised by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at CIRDAP Auditorium.

Head of the Electoral System Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, BNP Vice-Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon, BNP Chairperson's Adviser Moazzem Hossain Alal, Working Council Member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqul Islam Masud, Chief Co-coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolan Zonayed Saki, Gono Adhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Noor, Jatiya Party Presidium Member Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari, CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, Member Secretary of AB Party Mojibur Rahman Manju and RFED General Secretary Humayun Kabir spoke on the occasion with RFED President Ekramul Haq Sayem in the chair.  

Badiul Alam Majumdar said the entire electoral process should be rectified while all political parties, media personnel, civil society members and other stakeholders must play their due role in this connection.

Noting that polls-time neutral government is crucial, he said that the government, administration and law enforcement agencies must play a neutral role during polls, otherwise a fair election is not possible.

Badiul Alam put emphasis on reaching a political consensus and bringing changes of existing political culture for holding a free, fair and neutral poll. "The Election Commission (EC) will perform its duties with impartiality, honesty, dedication and professionalism to this end," he hoped.

BNP Vice- Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon said some reforms are needed so that the people would be the owners of the republic.

Stressing the need for bringing reforms to the existing Election Commission Appointment Act, Ripon said the authorities concerned must be careful so that none can be elected unopposed in any seat.

Adviser to BNP Chairperson Moazzem Hossain Alal stressed on enacting a fresh law so that no writ petition is accepted against the EC during the election time. "There should also be a provision that no one can be Prime Minister or President for more than two terms," he added.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqul Islam Masud said the Caretaker Government system should be amended and inserted permanently in the Constitution. The digital voting system must be abolished and the NID management should be brought under the Election Commission, he added. 

Besides, there will be no party symbols or party nominations in local government elections, Masud observed.

Former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Noor said a new constitution should be made after abolishing the present constitution of the country.

Zonayed Saki stressed on making the Election Commission as an independent constitutional body and proposed that at least three to five elections would be held under the interim government.

Jatiya Party leader Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari said, "It is very important who will be the government during the election. Elections with proportional representation should be arranged."

CPB leader Ruhin Hossain Prince opined that reform of the electoral system was not possible without discussion with political parties.