'Form caretaking council to hold fair elections'
Against the ongoing debate over scrapping the caretaker government system, a proposal for formation of a new body, comprised of people from all walks of life, to hold acceptable national elections was made yesterday.
The body titled “Election Caretaking Council” (ECC) would comprise of political parties, Election Commission (EC), civil society members, professionals and non-government organisations from national to union levels to make national polls neutral and acceptable.
Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samonnoy Parishad (BMSP), a human rights organisation, placed the proposal at a discussion it organised at Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday. BMSP President AHM Noman read out the proposal.
BMSP representatives said ECC would function for one year, nine months before election day and three months after the poll, helping EC select primary candidacy, carry out publicity, conduct the election and announce results.
Speakers at the discussion said participation of people from other segments of society alongside political parties and EC is essential to make an election credible and acceptable to all.
Speaking as the chief guest, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman termed ECC an attempt to involve people in the election process and said the new model will be able to supervise all segments of the election.
“The caretaker government system was introduced to hold an acceptable election but after the 1/11, we saw the negative side of a caretaker government, which caused panic among us,” said Mizanur.
He also stressed the need for an independent and powerful EC to hold an acceptable election.
Presiding over the discussion, former adviser to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan said involvement of political parties is important to make the new proposal a success.
Taleya Rehman, co-chairperson of Election Working Group, said the new proposal can be an ideal suggestion to involve civil society in the election process.
Former BMSP president Binoy Krishna Mallik and former secretary Hedayetul Islam Chowdhury also spoke at the programme.
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