Discussion with EC_ Jatio Shomaj Tantrik Dal

June 17, 2011

JSD for caretaker in next 2 polls

Citizen rights group prescribes new formula

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), a partner in the Awami League-led alliance government, has suggested the next two parliamentary elections be held under non-partisan caretaker governments.
The suggestion came in a dialogue the party held with the Election Commission yesterday, its leaders said.
JSD leaders at the talks also underlined the need for a strong Election Commission to hold free, fair and transparent elections.
"It will be a major political challenge to establish an impartial and strong election commission after the tenure of the current commission expires,” Inu told reporters emerging from the dialogue.
“So, until a strong commission is formed, next one or two general polls should be held under the caretaker government," he said, without explaining it further.
An eight-member JSD delegation led by Inu joined the dialogue with the EC at the commission secretariat in the city as part of EC's ongoing dialogue with political parties.
Inu said his party favoured introduction of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in phases.
JSD general secretary Nurul Sharif Ambia, CEC Dr ATM Shamsul Huda and other officials of the commission, among others, attended the dialogue.
Also yesterday a citizen rights group came up with a new idea for a caretaker government system at a press conference in the city.
The Shangbidhanik Adhikar Forum proposed that the president appoints the chief election commissioner the chief advisor of the caretaker government along with 10 advisers five each from the ruling party and the opposition.
The caretaker government, the forum said, will complete the national election within sixty days. In case of emergencies like natural disasters, the government will get another 30 days.
"Neither the advisers nor any of their children or siblings will participate in the national election," suggested Suranjan Ghosh, member secretary of the platform.
In another development Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami skipped its meeting with the EC scheduled for 3:00pm yesterday.
Talking to The Daily Star, Jamaat Acting Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam said, "We will take decision about joining the dialogue after discussion with our party leaders. If we would not go, then we will inform the commission through letter."
Earlier, main opposition BNP did not attend the dialogue that was scheduled to be held on June 13.
The EC on June 7 launched dialogues with the political parties for their opinion on some key issues like Representation of the People Order; laws on demarcation of constituencies and appointment of election commissioners; and use of electronic voting machine