The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf suggested the Election Commissioners should not talk much for the sake of holding a credible and acceptable general election in the country as per their roadmap.

Referring to the constitutional responsibilities of the EC which include holding parliament election, making a voter list and fixing the areas of each constituency he said, EC must act with full neutrality.

He was speaking at a roundtable on ' Election Roadmap: People's View' organised by Chirantan Bangladesh Central Committee at the National Press Club yesterday.

Whatever is in their minds, they must work to prove their neutrality, he said adding '' If election is their goal, they must follow the electoral process.''

Mentioning his experience as CEC in 1991's general election Justice Abdur Rouf said, if making voter Identity Card is based on the bureaucratic concept, it might not be successful, as it is a field level job.

Presided over by veteran journalist Gias Kamal Chowdhury, The New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, former PIB Director General Dr Rezwan Siddiqi, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Assistant Secretary General Md Kamruzzaman, Jatiya Gonotantrik Dal President Shafiul Alam Prodhan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Prof Ahmedul Kabir and Islamic Party General Secretary Adv Abdul Momen, among others, took part in the discussion.

Terming economy as a deciding factor in politics, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder cautioned about the danger of sidetracking the Constitution.

He suggested that the EC should remember its constitutional limitations and work for restoring the people's confidence in the EC.

Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Assistant Secretary General Md Kamruzzaman urged the EC to avoid any controversial activities.

He observed that because of making various constitutional controversies, we have fallen in the current crisis.

He said, '' We must learn from Pakistan and Myanmar and overcome the present crisis through election only.''

Differing with Kamruzzaman's opinion of having no influence of EC in election results, former PIB Director General Dr Rezwan Siddiqi said, sometimes they played some bad games for defeating any particular parties.

Protesting the interference of foreign ambassadors in country's internal affairs, Jatiya Gonotantrik Dal President Shafiul Alam Prodhan said, only a proper revolution by nationalist and pro-Islamic forces can stop this unwanted interference.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Prof Ahamedul Kabir said, some activities of the EC could not be treated as impartial in any way.