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Download PDF The Election Commission (EC) opens a series of dialogue today by holding talks with eminent personalities to seek their opinion on draft proposals for electoral law reforms.
The EC has already invited as many as 60 individuals including former military and civil bureaucrats, former chief election commissioners, educationalists and NGO personalities to attend the talks to be held at the conference room of National Economic Council, sources said.
The EC had planned to hold talks with the political parties first, but it could not proceed with the plan as the government has yet to withdraw embargo on indoor politics.
The chief election commissioner (CEC) at a meeting with the law adviser on April 4 asked the government to withdraw the embargo on indoor politics allowing the EC to hold talks with the political parties.
On several occasions, the CEC and two other election commissioners have said that the EC would sit with the major political parties as soon as the embargo is withdrawn. The EC cannot finalise the proposals without holding talks with the political parties.
Two election commissioners — Sahul Hossain and Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hossain — yesterday reiterated that the draft proposals for electoral reforms will be finalised after consulting with the major political parties and eminent personalities.
Decision on the introduction of transparent ballot boxes will be taken on consultation with them, they said.
After holding talks with the eminent personalities, the EC will sit in dialogue with senior journalists and editors of different daily newspapers to seek their opinion on the issues.
Meanwhile, Danish Ambassador in Dhaka Einar H Jensen, yesterday at a meeting with the CEC and two other election commissioners discussed the preparation of transparent ballot boxes. The ambassador informed the EC that a Danish private company prepares transparent ballot boxes and the EC can consider using the company in preparing ballot boxes.
The Danish embassy also gave a sample of transparent ballot box to the EC.
Election Commissioner Sakhawat Hossain however said the EC is considering a proposal of Bangladesh Army for preparing the transparent ballot boxes at Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory. The EC has already visited the organisation, he said.
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