EC to go for reform talks with parties
Bangladesh's EC to hold dialogue with political parties on electoral reforms to hold polls by end-2008.
By PTI |
DHAKA: Bangladesh's Election Commission has said it would start a dialogue with political parties on electoral reforms next month in line with its roadmap to hold polls by the end of 2008 despite a ban on political activities under emergency rules.
"We will send the draft proposals to political parties towards the end of this month so that they can study those before taking part in the dialogue with us," Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain was quoted as saying by media reports on Friday.
Asked if the dialogue process would require the lifting of the ban on indoor politics, Hossain said the interim government would look into the matter, "but we will complete our task according to our announced roadmap".
"We are not concerned about the ban on indoor politics," he said.
The Commission announced last month its roadmap earmarking three months -- September to November-- for talks with political parties on electoral reforms.
The Commission is currently preparing a voters' list with photographs and national identity cards.
The EC announcement came as the two major political parties Awami League (AL) of detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Khaleda Zia faced internal upheavals with dissident leaders calling for "democratisation".
Hossain said the EC will send letters to the party office inviting the appropriate persons to join the dialogue.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda had earlier urged the government to lift the ban on indoor politics but later added that "the government may have its own problem regarding the issue".
According to the roadmap, the EC would hold local government elections in 2008, ahead of the general elections.
The elections were originally scheduled for January 22 this year but were stalled after heightened political tension between the two major alliances led to proclamation of Emergency.
Chief Adviser of the interim government Fakhruddin Ahmed had earlier said he expected the elections to be held before the end of 2008 on completion of all required reforms.
"We will send the draft proposals to political parties towards the end of this month so that they can study those before taking part in the dialogue with us," Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain was quoted as saying by media reports on Friday.
Asked if the dialogue process would require the lifting of the ban on indoor politics, Hossain said the interim government would look into the matter, "but we will complete our task according to our announced roadmap".
"We are not concerned about the ban on indoor politics," he said.
The Commission announced last month its roadmap earmarking three months -- September to November-- for talks with political parties on electoral reforms.
The Commission is currently preparing a voters' list with photographs and national identity cards.
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The EC announcement came as the two major political parties Awami League (AL) of detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Khaleda Zia faced internal upheavals with dissident leaders calling for "democratisation".
Hossain said the EC will send letters to the party office inviting the appropriate persons to join the dialogue.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda had earlier urged the government to lift the ban on indoor politics but later added that "the government may have its own problem regarding the issue".
According to the roadmap, the EC would hold local government elections in 2008, ahead of the general elections.
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The elections were originally scheduled for January 22 this year but were stalled after heightened political tension between the two major alliances led to proclamation of Emergency.
Chief Adviser of the interim government Fakhruddin Ahmed had earlier said he expected the elections to be held before the end of 2008 on completion of all required reforms.
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