By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh’s Election Commission Wednesday began a two-month dialogue with political parties in its bid to introduce wide ranging electoral reforms.
On day one, the Election Commission held discussions with the Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), a four-party combine of Islamic parties that shared power during 2001-06, reported the Daily Star.
The set of reforms sought to be introduced include the authority to cancel candidature on grounds of irregularities, making registration of political parties mandatory with provisions designed to ensure financial transparency and democracy, and the power to punish any person for contempt of the Election Commission.
The commission had made the same proposals before the eighth parliamentary election in 2001 but could not finalise them because of opposition from political parties.
This time it is determined to bring massive reforms in the electoral laws. It has already earned support from civil society, the NGOs and senior journalists for its proposals when it held separate talks with them in April and May.
Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda has on several occasions clarified the commission’s stance on the draft proposals, saying that the panel would hear the opinions of all parties but do whatever it felt was fair.
According to the Election Commission roadmap, it will complete talks with the parties by November and then finalise the proposals by examining their opinions. Once the proposals are finalised, they will be sent to the government for formulating laws through an ordinance.
It hopes to complete the entire procedure by February next year.
The country’s Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed set the stage for the talks last Sunday by relaxing the emergency rules to allow indoor political activity by political parties.
In 2001, political parties strongly opposed the provision for their registration, following which the EC had made it optional. However, they are agreeable to the idea this time.
Also in 2001, the poll panel was given the authority to cancel candidatures and punish any person for its contempt, but the powers were scrapped immediately afterwards in the face of severe criticism.
In its proposal, the Election Commission has again sought to impose restrictions on participation of retired military personnel or civil servants, defaulters of loans and utility bills, NGO officials and independent candidates in the national election. Besides, none should be allowed to contest from more than three constituencies at a time, the commission feels.
On the eve of the talks Tuesday, the home ministry amended the definition of what constitutes a political party to include factions and splinter groups.
While Jatiya Party of former president H.M. Ershad has split into three factions in recent years, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also been virtually divided down the middle with both factions seeking invitation to the talks.