Staff Reporter :
The parliament will have to be dissolved before the election, and if necessary, the army has to be deployed also.
Internationally renowned lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain raised the demand on Saturday in a press conference organized by Ganoforum at the Jatiya Press Club.
He said a fair, neutral, participatory and acceptable election will not be possible under the present parliament which is dominated by the ruling government.
“I cannot say boldly that the election will be neutral, as it is difficult to predict the situation during election-time. But I want everyone to participate in the election,” the constitution expert said, adding that those who do not want participation of all, create unrest and instability.
About the deployment of army in the election, Dr Kamal said, “If the army is needed to ensure free and fair polls, then it must be deployed.”
If the political situation deteriorates to such a stage that army deployment is unavoidable, those who are in charge of the election will have to evaluate the situation carefully, he added.
Kamal said, “Before the elections of January 22, 2007, the present Prime Minister delivered many lectures that outlined how to hold a free,
fair, and neutral election. If you put them together you would get a good manifesto on fair and neutral election.”
He also said, “The EC is not neutral, how will the people rely on it? If the present political situation continues, the possibility of holding an election like the last one will be created again.”
“The last election was held according to the constitution, but the voting right of the people was not ensured,” he added.
General Secretary of Ganoforam Mostafa Mohsin Montu and other some leaders were also present on the occasion.
The parliament will have to be dissolved before the election, and if necessary, the army has to be deployed also.
Internationally renowned lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain raised the demand on Saturday in a press conference organized by Ganoforum at the Jatiya Press Club.
He said a fair, neutral, participatory and acceptable election will not be possible under the present parliament which is dominated by the ruling government.
“I cannot say boldly that the election will be neutral, as it is difficult to predict the situation during election-time. But I want everyone to participate in the election,” the constitution expert said, adding that those who do not want participation of all, create unrest and instability.
About the deployment of army in the election, Dr Kamal said, “If the army is needed to ensure free and fair polls, then it must be deployed.”
If the political situation deteriorates to such a stage that army deployment is unavoidable, those who are in charge of the election will have to evaluate the situation carefully, he added.
Kamal said, “Before the elections of January 22, 2007, the present Prime Minister delivered many lectures that outlined how to hold a free,
fair, and neutral election. If you put them together you would get a good manifesto on fair and neutral election.”
He also said, “The EC is not neutral, how will the people rely on it? If the present political situation continues, the possibility of holding an election like the last one will be created again.”
“The last election was held according to the constitution, but the voting right of the people was not ensured,” he added.
General Secretary of Ganoforam Mostafa Mohsin Montu and other some leaders were also present on the occasion.
