The New Nation - Internet Edition

CEC hands over EC report to CA

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda
handing over the Report of Electoral Law Reform to President
Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban on Wednesday. PID
photo

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday called on Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed at the later's office and submitted a copy of the report on recent dialogue between the Election Commission (EC) and political parties on electoral reforms.

Election Commissioners Mohammad Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen M Sakhawat Hossain and EC Secretary Humayun Kabir accompanied the CEC during the report submission.

Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder, Secretary of Chief Adviser's Office Kazi Aminul Islam and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the CEC at a press conference at his office said the EC does not want to embarrass the interim government asking for withdrawal of the state of emergency ahead of the general elections.

"We will request the government to take necessary steps to create congenial atmosphere for holding a fair election but we do not want to embarrass the government," he said.

About the report that was unveiled before the press conference, the CEC said the Commission made a series of recommendations to the government for ensuring a free and fair election.

The recommendations include strengthening the EC, banning front

organisations of political parties and their units abroad, keeping

provision of casting 'no vote' in the ballot and curbing writing and pasting of posters on the walls.

Emphasising the need for changing the present system of appointing election commissioners, the CEC said the parliamentary business advisory committee comprising the top leaders of all parties in Parliament, could finalise the appointment of the election commissioners to ensure the EC's neutrality.

He also observed that the EC's size should be made specific consisting of three commissioners including a woman member.

In the morning, the CEC met President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and handed over a copy of the report to him.

Lawyers float new body

Staff Reporter

A new organisation, "Bangladesh Anjibi Andolan," headed by Adv Kabir Koraishi Talukdar placed a 20-point proposal on its founding day at a press conference yesterday.

Convener of the Andolan Kabir Koraishi Talukdar read out the written speech. Its Joint Convener MRM Hafiz and PC Ray and Member Secretary Adv Dr Munsi Shahjahan also addressed the conference held in the city's Supreme Court Bar Association.

The proposal includes formation of a permanent Judiciary Council, constitutional court, national economic council, national security council, independent election commission, federal central government and bi-cameral parliament and to introduce Upazila level judiciary system.

EC won't embarrass govt on emergency lifting before polls

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission do not want to embarrass the interim government asking for withdrawal of the state of emergency ahead of the elections.

"We don't want to embarrass the government. We'll request the government to take necessary steps to create congenial atmosphere for holding a fair election," Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said at a press conference at the EC secretariat yesterday afternoon immediately prior to meeting the Chief Adviser.

The CEC made the remark in reply to a question after unveiling a report on the dialogue between and the Election Commission and the political parties about electoral reforms.

About the report, the CEC said the Commission made a series of recommendations to the government for ensuring a free and fair election.

The recommendations include strengthening the EC, banning front organizations of political parties and their units abroad, keeping provision of casting 'no vote' in the ballot, taking charge by the EC of hustings, and curbing writing and pasting of posters on the walls.

Dr Huda said the present system of appointing election commissioners should be changed. The parliamentary business advisory committee, which comprises the top leaders of all parties in parliament, could finalize the appointment of the election commissioners to ensure the EC's neutrality.

"If the President unilaterally appoints the election commissioners, it may look as partisan," he said adding that the EC's size should be made specific consisting of three commissioners including a woman member.

During their meeting with the Chief Adviser in the afternoon, the CEC said the Commission would urge him to take steps for amending the Political Party Ordinance (PPO) and putting a stop to haphazard wall writings on election campaign.

The CEC said they met President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday morning and handed over a copy of the report to him.