The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission has asked the government to relax state of emergency since, they say, elections cannot be held with hands and feet tied.

"We've already said that elections can't be held with hands and legs tied if relaxed condition is not there. We can't hold even municipality elections if this kind of situation continues," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain told journalists yesterday after the EC held an hour-long meeting with Bangladesh Kalyan Party (BKP).

"I can't tell it on swearing, but it's my idea that the state-of-emergency issue can be settled based on the dialogue between the political parties and the government," he added.

The EC asked the Government to ensure that proper electoral atmosphere prevails before, during and after announcement of election schedule, Sakhawat said.

Emerging from the meeting, Chairman of the newly floated party Maj General (retd) Syed Ibrahim, who led 5-member delegation, told the journalists that they asked the EC to request the government to take a decision on lifting or relaxing the state of emergency.

"The decision is necessary to take for facilitating us in fulfilling the minimum criteria set by the Commission to get registered as political party," he said.

The newly formed parties could not run their district-level activities due to the restrictions imposed under the emergency rules, said General Ibrahim.

As per the latest update on the draft electoral laws after two-time discussion with the political parties on electoral reforms, Sakhawat said, any newly formed political party having fully active offices and committees in 21 administrative districts and 100 upazilas would be eligible for getting registered.

"It's not that the political parties beyond taking part in dialogue with the Commission can't apply for registration. The application process is open for all. That's why we relaxed the registration conditions discussing with the parties," the Election Commissioner told the journalists separately at his office.

The EC sat with political parties for discussing electoral reforms based on some specific criteria, Sakhawat said, adding that still they are taking suggestions from the parties outside the dialogue.

"We've sent the draft electoral laws to those parties and asked them to send their suggestions within March 15 to 20. We'll finalise the draft of electoral laws within this month through considering those suggestions," he said.

However, BKP chairman Ibrahim suggested the EC to hold upazila elections prior to national elections or the two simultaneously. "Certainly, not after the national elections," he underscored.

He said the elections must be held as per the EC-announced election roadmap, that is, by December. "The elections can't be delayed by any means. Delaying elections on excuses won't be right since the country' s people are now pro-election."

The BKP chairman said they called on the EC as they could not sit with them for electoral dialogue being a new political party that was unable to fulfill the criteria set by the EC for holding dialogue.

"But, we've suggestions on electoral reforms. We asked the EC if we could place the suggestions before them. They said we can, but in writing," he said.