The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said they were going ahead with full preparation for holding the stalled general election by the yearend, if no external factor stands in the way.

"There can't be any election prior to the preparation of electoral roll with photograph, which takes minimum 18 months," he told an AmCham meeting at the Sheraton Hotel, apparently ruling out politician's plea for holding the polls earlier than the EC-envisaged terminal time on the electoral roadmap.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) organized the function titled 'The Forthcoming Parliamentary Election: Role of Election Commission in Conducting a Free and Fair Election'. He said the EC is well informed about the consequences of failure in holding the elections as per the roadmap. The main goal of the EC is to hold the election by the end of this year. However, it has also some sub-goals, including legal and institutional reforms.

About the RPO, he said: "In the roadmap, we wanted to amend some provisions of the RPO ordinance 1972. In this regard, we consulted all the political parties and other members of society. We are on right track. We are about to complete all the preparations towards the election."

Stating that the EC is not feeling worried about making some reforms for the upcoming elections, the CEC said the only one item yet to be finalized is analyzing the reform law, which is now at the desk of the Chief Adviser.

"After its finalization, the EC will start the registration process of the political parties."

The CEC told his foreign business audience that the general election would be held in a single day across the country so the 100 percent of final voter list is necessary to get prepared before declaring the schedule of election to the general assembly.

Dr Huda said the commission has taken all necessary preparation to hold the upcoming elections in time "so that the holding of general election would not be disrupted in the country due to the EC's activities".

He observed that the holding of election is necessary for institutionalizing the county's democracy and the democratic process.

Emphasizing the need for honest administration for holding free and fair elections, the CEC said an honest and neutral administration is badly needed to hold free, fair and neutral elections in the country. "If the bureaucracy is not honest, it will be hard to control the election," he said.

He described the focus of the election commission is on four categories--- playing role of the commission, following the election roadmap, developing the election- management system and institutionalizing the EC to hold free and fair elections.

Describing the completion of voter registration in a short span of time as success of the election commission, Dr Huda said the biggest data base with some eight million adult people in Bangladesh has been made through completing this process.

The CEC observed that some invisible things, including the malpractice of spreading money among the voters by the candidates, are seen in the country although the tough code of conduct and electoral rules are in place. "All malpractices cannot be rectified overnight.

He said the voters should be careful and they could play important role in this regard.

Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Charge the Affaires of the US embassy Geeta Pasi, AmCham president Syed Arshad Ahmed and its executive director A Gafur and former advisers ASM Shahjah were among others present at the function.