The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) will send a report to the Government on the outcome of the dialogue with political parties with recommendations for increasing the seats in Parliament and debarring the war criminals from contesting polls.

Disclosing this at a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said the Commission would also recommend for amending the Constitution to repeal its Article 70 to stop floor crossing.

Asked what is the EC's specific recommendation on Article 70, he, however said that the Commission had not yet decided. "We'll sit and give opinion on it," he added.

The CEC said, the report is being prepared on the basis of overall dialogue between the EC and political parties and it would be sent to the Chief Adviser.

He said, the Chief Adviser was waiting for the end of the dialogue. And even the next political government can work based on the report," he observed.

Asked about the dialogue with BNP which is stalled due to a writ petition filed with the High Court, he said the Commission is waiting for the court decision and hope to get it before closing the second round of dialogue with the political parties to be ended on February 28.

"The task of finalising the draft reform proposals of concerned electoral laws to be completed by March next cannot be done without holding dialogue with BNP since it is one of the biggest parties and dialogue should have to be held with them," the CEC said adding, the Commission has fallen in a crisis in this regard.

On the suggestion from different quarters for sitting with leaders of both the factions of BNP, he said that is not possible as the problem is that each political party has factions.

"Our decision is to sit with those parties, which are the mainstream and fulfill our criteria," he said.

He said, problem is also there in registering the parties, as to how the two factions could be registered.

Asked about lifting the state of emergency during the local elections, Shamsul Huda said the government should have to assist them in conducting the elections and it is up to the government how they would create the atmosphere.

He said, the Commission hopes to know what is happening regarding state of emergency before announcing the schedule of local-body elections expected to be held by the end of April.

Earlier, the CEC inaugurated the reconstructed website of the EC: www.ecs.gov.bd. Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain were present on the occasion.