EC talks get underwhelming response yet again

The Election Commission step to hold dialogue with a cross-section of people including politicians seeking recommendations on how best to hold free and fair elections received an underwhelming response today.

On the second day of a series of dialogue today, 19 out of 39 eminent citizens joined the dialogue held at the Election Commission conference room.

During the first round of discussion, EC also received a lukewarm response as 13 out of 30 invitees joined the dialogue on March 13.

EC Joint Secretary Asaduzzaman Arzu said that they have preliminary listed 39 eminent citizens but when they contacted before the distribution of invitations, they found two of them were abroad.

Talking with The Daily Star on Monday, five eminent citizens said they would not be able to join for different reasons such as health conditions, pre-scheduled appointments, among others.

AB Mirza Azizul Islam, former adviser to the caretaker government and noted economist, said, "I will not be able to go to for talks. Election is a political issue and I don't get involved in political discussions. I don't think I can make any significant contribution by joining."

Hafizuddin Khan, another former adviser to the caretaker government and former bureaucrat, said he will not join talks as it will be difficult for him to give his opinion due to time constraints, as so many people were invited.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), said he will not be able to join talks as he will be in Khulna to attend a pre-scheduled programme.

Tofail Ahmed, local governance expert, said, "It won't be possible for me to join as I have been in my home in Chattogram since March 18 and will return to Dhaka on March 24."

Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury, Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Mohammed Farashuddin, former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Maumdar, Centre for Policy Dialogue's (CPD) Distinguished Fellows Debapriya Bhattacharya and Prof Mustfizur Rahman, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples' Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong, Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, former Foreign Secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed, ex-secretaries Abdul Latif Mandal and Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan, Dhaka University Profs Robaet Ferdous and SM Shameem Reza, writer and columnist Mohiuddin Ahmad, Leadership Studies Foundation Chairman Sinha MA Sayeed also spoke at the programme.