Bangladesh News

Political parties can sit for dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) on its proposed electoral reforms despite the ban on political activities, an election commissioner said yesterday.
“Political parties will have to send their nominated representatives to hold discussion with us. We will not invite any parties to sit with the commission to discuss the proposed electoral reforms until the embargo on indoor politics is lifted, ” Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hossain told journalists at his office.

The EC will sit with the Jatiya Party (Nilu) today as the party had earlier sought a schedule for discussion on election matters, Sakhawat said.

“I cannot say that,” he replied when asked whether sending ‘nominated’ representatives would not be considered as political activities, and who would ensure their security.

The election commissioner’s comments came just a day after two advisers of the caretaker government said it may allow political parties to hold their council meetings, if they seek permission, to complete intra-party reforms despite the ban on politics.

Asked whether the views expressed by the advisers have prompted the EC to make a move for talks with political parties, Sakhawat said he cannot say anything right now. “Wait and see,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda at a meeting with the law adviser on April 4 asked the government to lift the ban on indoor politics, allowing the EC to hold dialogue with political parties. The EC cannot yet hold talks with them since the government has not responded to the EC’s request.

The CEC on several occasions said it is not possible for political parties to send their representatives to express their views on electoral reforms as they will not be allowed to hold party meetings to discuss the proposed reforms proposals.

In such a situation, the election commissioner yesterday came up with his views on discussions with political parties to finalise the EC’s reform proposals.

“Many have contacted us, and we asked them to come. If it is so, we will schedule who should come when to sit with us,” Sakhawat said.

“We are open (to discussion)… We don’t have any objection if they (representatives) come to us with authorisation (from their parties). We aren’t going to sit with whosoever comes,” he said.

The EC on April 5 disclosed a set of draft proposals for electoral reforms, which includes those to ensure democratic practices and financial transparency within the political parties. The CEC repeatedly said the EC will finalise the draft proposals in consultation with major political parties.

Sakhawat noted that the EC’s proposals are solely election-related. “Those contain nothing about structural reforms in any political parties since that is not our concern.”

In reply to a question, he said, “Reform in political parties is their internal matter, we have nothing to say about that.”

He went on, “The commission is helping political parties to become democratic through introduction of political party registration act with some regulations providing that the parties have to ensure democracy within them if they want to get registered with it (EC).”

The election commissioner also talked about Sirupur pilot project for gathering field level experience on simultaneously preparing voter list with photographs and national identity cards.