Next polls must be held under caretaker govt
Say eminent citizens
The next general election should be held under a non-partisan caretaker government, whatever the format might be, to make it fair and credible, some eminent citizens said at a roundtable yesterday.
It is not possible to hold a fair election keeping the incumbent parliament active as required by provisions added through the latest constitutional amendment, said former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain.
He also suggested revising the Election Commission rules, saying there were many loopholes in them.
Talking about Awami League and BNP, he said, “According to my observations and casting of votes, 67 percent of the total voters support the two parties. The remaining 33 percent voters are flexible.”
The roundtable titled “Present socio-economic-political crisis: Way forward” was organised by Nagarik Oikkyo, a platform of citizens, at Jatiya Press Club.
The speakers stressed the need for a civic alliance comprising civil society members and progressive politicians to act as a pressure group to overcome the current socio-economic-political crises and maintain healthy politics.
Presenting the keynote paper, eminent law expert Dr Shahdeen Malik said, “If the national election is held under a partisan government, it will not be acceptable and the government will not survive more than six months.”
“The people's faith in the two major political parties has fallen to the lowest level. This faithlessness has created the ground for a new political party to emerge,” he said.
A law professor at Dhaka University Asif Nazrul said, “Given the present political circumstances, there is a demand for a third party in Bangladesh. If it can be formed, we will come up with intellectual support.”
Regarding speculations that Nagarik Oikkyo will participate in the next general polls and announce candidates in 300 constituencies, the organisation's convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, “This is a platform of citizens. If qualified citizens want to contest the poll individually and we will support them from our organisation. It will not be an offence.”
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