They said to establish an independent, neutral and effective Election Commission (EC), people who have respect for democracy, should be appointed as the CEC and other commissioners on the basis of consultations with all political parties and eminent persons.

The seminar titled 'Independent, neutral and effective Election Commission: Pre-conditions for holding a free, fair and acceptable election' was organised by Peshajibi Samannay Parishad, a platform of professionals, at the National Press Club in the city.

Presenting a keynote paper, Chowdhury Khalequzzaman, co-convenor of the parishad, said electoral reform proposals of 14-party opposition combine must be accepted as people's hope and aspirations have been reflected in them.

He said the country is now passing through a hard time as uncertainty looms over voter list and next general election.

The present CEC has no right to cling to his post anymore as he initiated the work of upgrading the voter list by misinterpreting the Voter List Ordinance 1982 and ignoring the Section 118(2) of the Constitution, Khalequzzaman added.

He put forward a 15-point recommendation on behalf of the parishad that includes establishing an independent EC free from executive control.

Prof Rehman Sobhan, chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said the right to vote is the basic rights of people and everybody have to think how they can exercise their franchise without any fear.

" Many proposals have now been placed for electoral reforms and we should go for only realistic ones as the time is very limited," he said.

Prof Rehman said the political parties should come together in one platform in order to hold the election in a free and fair manner.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ittefaq Group Barrister Moinul Hussein said the crisis should be resolved by the political parties and the parishad can play a role of the civil society.

He said the parishad should talk to main political parties BNP and Awami League to help reach a consensus.

Mujibul Hauqe, former cabinet secretary, said the CEC should resign as people have lost their faith in him.

He also urged the lawyers to take legal and constitutional measures to get rid of the CEC.

He said a successful parliamentary government must ensure neutrality of bureaucracy.

While moderating the seminar, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said people are now scared whether the election will be held or not.

He said the parishad demands holding of next general election in a free and fair manner.

Justice Golam Rabbani, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury were present at the seminar.