Lobby for nomination of 'clean' candidates

He also demanded reforms to the Election Commission (EC) and then caretaker system.

The EC it has proved ineffective in preparing a correct voter list, the first prerequisite for holding the next parliamentary election. There has been numerous complaints about fake voters having been recorded, he said.

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He was speaking at a view exchange meeting on 'National Elections 2007: Evolving a Framework for Free and Fair Election, held on Monday at Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) auditorium.

CCC Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury also spoke at the meeting, organised by Centre for Democracy (CD), a local NGO.

CD President Abul Ahsan moderated the meeting while national daily Independent and local daily Purbokone were media partners.

The eminent jurist also stressed the need for transparency in election expenses of candidates to stop use of black money in polls. Candidates must declare their assets and defaulters must be barred from the polls race, he said.

Dr Kamal said the media and the civil society have great roles to play in creating awareness among people about the need for holding a free and fair election and nomination of 'clean' candidates in the next parliamentary polls.

Democracy will falter unless use of money and muscle power is stopped and fair and credible elections are not held, he said.

Honest, efficient and dedicated people should come to politics for consolidation of democracy and development of the country.

Political parties have to take the lead in this regard by nominating 'clean' candidates in the next polls.

Dr. Kamal urged the civil society to form a greater unity and launch a campaign so that parties nominate 'clean' candidates, he said.

Mohiuddin Chowdhury said the ruling party is patronising terrorists and militants to use them in the next polls to manipulate results.

"There is no alternative to fighting with the spirits of Liberation War to foil all conspiracies by ruling parties to manipulate the election," the Mayor said.

Former minister Mosharraf Hossain made a 12-point suggestion to hold a fair polls. These include preparation of electronic voter list with profile and finger print of voters which would be kept centrally in a computer database, introduction of voter identity cards with photo, increasing the number of polling centres and more vigilance by law enforcers during polls.

social scientist Prof Dr. Anupam Sen said the nation is passing a crucial juncture as doubt has been raised whether the election will be held timely. Such a situation has been created as the government and the opposition are in a stand-off over reforms to the EC and the caretaker government and alleged anomalies in the voter list.

The speakers included editor of the Independent Mahbubul Alam and Chittagong Press Club President Abu Sufian.