Provide candidates' info to elect honest persons
Speakers at Khulna meet urge EC
Speakers at a view exchange meeting yesterday said emergency power rules are not the final solution for all the problems including crime in the society.
At the meeting on 'Role of media in the local body elections and concerned rules and regulations', they suggested more reforms in the Election Commission so that people can get their right to have full information about candidates contesting for mayoral and councillor posts in the local government elections.
Channel I, The Daily Star and the Prothom Alo were the media partners in the programme organised by Shushashoner Janney Nagorik (Shujan) at the VIP lounge of Khulna Press Club.
Elections under state of emergency are not at all desirable, former adviser to a caretaker government M Hafizudiin Khan said in his speech as the chief guest at the view exchange meeting.
In line with Right to Information Act, the Election Commission must provide people with information about background of mayoral and councillor candidates so that they can elect honest persons, he said.
Stressing the need for creating awareness among the people, he urged media to play their role in this regard so that dishonest men cannot stage their comeback in the elections with help of black money and muscle power.
“I am convinced that good men still outnumber bad men. So, it is moral obligation of every citizen to build up strong unity to resist rise of corrupt people and criminalisation of politics,” he said.
Shujon General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, Khulna district unit President Prof Md Zafar Imam, district General Secretary advocate Kudrat-e-Khuda and central coordinator Dilip Kumar Sarker and Khulna Press Club President Wadudur Rahman Panna and several local journalists spoke in the view exchange meeting.
Shujan's Khulna district unit President Prof Mohammad Zafar Imam presided over the meeting.
Calling upon the people to elect honest and competent candidates, Shujon General Secretary Badiul Alam said it will be harmful for the country if corrupt people are elected again.
It is duty of the EC to ensure a free and fair election so that voters can exercise their right of franchise without fear, he said.
Journalists speaking on the occasion said several listed criminals who were elected in the past have staged comeback in the Khulna City Corporation election race.
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