Advisers talk ways to make Election Commission effective

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The council of advisers to the interim government yesterday in its first meeting started searching for ways to make the Election Commission (EC) factually effective by any means necessary to hold the next parliamentary election in a free and fair manner.
They are scheduled to meet again at 12:30pm today.

On the first working day of the council, the advisers to the caretaker government headed by President Iajuddin Ahmed, reached a consensus that the EC must be made effective as holding a fair election largely depends on its capabilities, sources said.

In response to the opinions of his advisers, the president also chief adviser to the interim government asked them to keep on thinking about all matters regarding holding a free and fair election, the sources added.

“In fact, we are now heartily trying to find the means to make the Election Commission effective,” an adviser told The Daily Star yesterday on condition of anonymity.

The adviser however declined to make any instant comment on whether they plan to reconstitute the EC that has been mired in controversy raising questions about its ability to hold a fair election.

Contacted by The Daily Star last night, Adviser Dr Akbar Ali Khan however said the issue of reform in the EC and the electoral laws is being discussed among the public, but no official measure has been taken yet in this regard. “We will chalk out probable measures for reforms and then if necessary will seek legal opinions,” the adviser said.

The meeting, which was held in Bangabhaban for about two hours, discussed the law and order situation, and reshuffling of the police and civil administrations. The advisers’ council vowed to hold the next parliamentary election in a free and fair manner.

Dr Akbar Ali Khan, also a former cabinet secretary, said a committee for reshuffling the administration will be formed in a couple of days. “Our first task is to ensure an environment for holding a fair election,” he added.

President Iajuddin Ahmed explained the prevailing situation and the steps initiated by him to his advisers and told them that the next parliamentary election must be fair.

The home secretary reported in the meeting that the law and order situation is now in a better shape. Meeting sources said eminent human rights leader Adviser

Advocate Sultana Kamal expressed her concern over the latest mass arrest in the capital.

In response to her concern, the president directed the home ministry to carefully deal with the matter so that no innocent person is harassed.

About reshuffling the administration, the advisers repeatedly expressed their opinion that the reshuffle should be done carefully to avoid politically motivated postings, sources said.

The advisers, who were sworn in on Tuesday night, are expected to start working from today after receiving their portfolios.

Talking to The Daily Star last night, a number of advisers said they also expressed in the meeting their concern about the time crunch ahead of the next parliamentary election scheduled for January. The caretaker government has a huge task ahead and has to create a level playing field for the next polls, they said.

The advisers after the meeting expressed their confidence that they will be able to gain the peoples’ trust through their work.

“We, the ten advisers and the chief adviser, are aware that the election should be held in a free and fair manner acceptable to the people,” Adviser CM Shafi Sami said.

Emerging from the meeting the adviser told reporters, “We are going to work very hard and everybody will be happy.”

Another adviser, Yasmin Murshed, said, “We will definitely be able to hold a free and fair election.”

Advocate Sultana Kamal said, “We have a tough time ahead, we will have to work with great speed.”

Adviser Lt General (retd) Hasan Mashud Chowdhury told reporters that they will start working from today after distribution of portfolios. “We discussed some matters today. You (reporters) will come to know about our activities in time.”

The advisers in the afternoon placed wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar and observed silence in memory of the martyrs of the liberation war.

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