Special Correspondent :
The Election Commission will initiate dialogue with the country’s registered political parties over the procedure of next national election from mid-July. The dialogue will continue till November this year.
Considering holding of the dialogue a major issue, the EC on Tuesday announced a seven-point draft roadmap for the next general election, which also includes easing some legal complications in holding the 11th parliamentary poll without any hassle.
The next general election is likely to be held late December 2018 or early January 2019, as per constitutional obligation.
The EC, however, has not included the much-talked-about EVM [electronic voting machines] in the draft roadmap pushing the issue towards political parties’ court.
“We’ve not keep the EVM issue in the draft road map. It [EVM] will not be used, if the political parties have any objection… It’s clear,” Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said on Tuesday.
The CEC announced the road map after holding a meeting with Commissioners and other senior officials at Commission’s Secretariat in the city’s Agargaon.
“The Election Commission is moving forward with a roadmap that include updated list of voters, guidelines for consultation with stakeholders, registration of political parties, level playing field and others ahead of next general election,” the CEC said.
Detailing the plan, he said: “We will hold the dialogue with all stakeholders, including political parties, election observers, media, civil society members and election officials by the timeframe to hold the next general election in a free and fair way.”
Officials said four committees have been constituted headed by four commissioners to deal with the Commission and other electoral affairs.
Significantly, the EC has dropped the EVM issue from the roadmap when the ruling Awami
League and main opposition BNP are locked in a debate over e-voting.
Earlier, CEC Nurul Huda proposed to use EVM but BNP had rejected it saying ‘it is an ill-motivated plan’.
Expressing dissatisfaction, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, recently said: “The Prime Minister’s son and one of her adviser have said the EVM will be used in the next parliamentary election. The CEC echoed the same. The CEC’s comment is the reflection of fulfilling the government’s desire. We think the Commission’s move to bring the EVM issue in the limelight is politically motivated, though it [EVM] is a faulty election system.”
Meanwhile, the AL has taken decision to drum up public support for e-voting in the next parliamentary election with focusing that e-voting is the only mode for holding a credible and neutral election.
“We would favour the digital system for holding a credible and neutral general election. If the EC seeks our opinion, we shall give our opinion in favour of the digital system,” Road Transport and Bridges Minister and AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said recently.
Party insiders said the ruling AL-led government intends to set an example like that of India, where Indian EC holds credible and neutral polls for years together. The Indian government formed the Electoral Reforms Committee. The committee consisted of representatives of several recognised national and state parties. In April, 1990, it unanimously recommended for EVM without further delay.
Against this backdrop, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said his government will give all sorts of support to Bangladesh government in holding next general election, if Bangladesh wants.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla met with CEC KM Nurul Huda on May 19. After the meeting, the CEC said they discussed preparations and timing of the next parliamentary election, and the polls already held by the current Election Commission.
In Bangladesh, the EVM was earlier partially used in Narayanganj City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation polls and there was no major fault.
The Election Commission will initiate dialogue with the country’s registered political parties over the procedure of next national election from mid-July. The dialogue will continue till November this year.
Considering holding of the dialogue a major issue, the EC on Tuesday announced a seven-point draft roadmap for the next general election, which also includes easing some legal complications in holding the 11th parliamentary poll without any hassle.
The next general election is likely to be held late December 2018 or early January 2019, as per constitutional obligation.
The EC, however, has not included the much-talked-about EVM [electronic voting machines] in the draft roadmap pushing the issue towards political parties’ court.
“We’ve not keep the EVM issue in the draft road map. It [EVM] will not be used, if the political parties have any objection… It’s clear,” Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said on Tuesday.
The CEC announced the road map after holding a meeting with Commissioners and other senior officials at Commission’s Secretariat in the city’s Agargaon.
“The Election Commission is moving forward with a roadmap that include updated list of voters, guidelines for consultation with stakeholders, registration of political parties, level playing field and others ahead of next general election,” the CEC said.
Detailing the plan, he said: “We will hold the dialogue with all stakeholders, including political parties, election observers, media, civil society members and election officials by the timeframe to hold the next general election in a free and fair way.”
Officials said four committees have been constituted headed by four commissioners to deal with the Commission and other electoral affairs.
Significantly, the EC has dropped the EVM issue from the roadmap when the ruling Awami
League and main opposition BNP are locked in a debate over e-voting.
Earlier, CEC Nurul Huda proposed to use EVM but BNP had rejected it saying ‘it is an ill-motivated plan’.
Expressing dissatisfaction, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, recently said: “The Prime Minister’s son and one of her adviser have said the EVM will be used in the next parliamentary election. The CEC echoed the same. The CEC’s comment is the reflection of fulfilling the government’s desire. We think the Commission’s move to bring the EVM issue in the limelight is politically motivated, though it [EVM] is a faulty election system.”
Meanwhile, the AL has taken decision to drum up public support for e-voting in the next parliamentary election with focusing that e-voting is the only mode for holding a credible and neutral election.
“We would favour the digital system for holding a credible and neutral general election. If the EC seeks our opinion, we shall give our opinion in favour of the digital system,” Road Transport and Bridges Minister and AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said recently.
Party insiders said the ruling AL-led government intends to set an example like that of India, where Indian EC holds credible and neutral polls for years together. The Indian government formed the Electoral Reforms Committee. The committee consisted of representatives of several recognised national and state parties. In April, 1990, it unanimously recommended for EVM without further delay.
Against this backdrop, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said his government will give all sorts of support to Bangladesh government in holding next general election, if Bangladesh wants.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla met with CEC KM Nurul Huda on May 19. After the meeting, the CEC said they discussed preparations and timing of the next parliamentary election, and the polls already held by the current Election Commission.
In Bangladesh, the EVM was earlier partially used in Narayanganj City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation polls and there was no major fault.
