Law needs amendment for DCC polls: CEC
The existing city corporation law needs to be amended to hold Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) polls because the poll issue has come to a very complex and a peculiar stage, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda.
Election Commission (EC) now depends on the government for the decision of DCC polls because the existing law does not specify what to do after expiring date. But the government has obtained dilly-dallying tactics. That is why the law should be amended to overcome the crisis, he said.
Huda was speaking at a dialogue with Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon at the commission's secretariat in the city yesterday as part of its ongoing dialogue to be held with the registered political parties.
In response to an allegation that EC does not take any step despite violation of registration condition by the two major political parties, said the CEC adding, "We can not take stern action against them because of reality."
Talking about electronic voting machine (EVM), he said, if the new system is introduced, the commission will able to save around Tk 1,087crore from poll costs to be held within every five-year cycle.
Participating in separate dialogues, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon gave nod for introduction of the system in local government first experimentally before general election, while Bangladesh Tariqat Federation demanded incorporating finger prints in the technology.
An 11-member delegation led by Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Chief Shah Ahmadullah Ashraf attend the dialogue, while Tariqat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Boshor led a 9-member delegation.
Khelafat Andolon recommended abolishing system of reserved seats for women in the parliament, making mandatory for conducting electoral campaign in a common poster and political stage and keeping 450 constituencies in the parliament.
Tariqat Federation suggested appointment of two female commissioners in the EC and formation of interim government headed by the president.
The EC on June 7 launched dialogues with the political parties for their opinion on some key issues like RPO, laws on demarcation of constituencies, appointment of election commissioners, and use of EVMs.
However, main opposition BNP and its alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami did not join the dialogue.
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