AL, BNP square off over polls-time govt

The ruling Awami League is going to propose introduction of electronic voting for the next general elections and request the Election Commission to follow the constitutional provision under which the incumbent prime minister would remain the head of the polls-time government.

The BNP, on the other hand, is against the e-voting as it fears the election results would be manipulated through the system.

The party would also press for holding the polls under an election-time “supportive government”, saying the parliamentary election would not be free and fair if it was held under the PM.

If it is not possible to ensure e-voting across the country, the AL would like to have the system introduced in some particular constituencies which are in city corporation areas, said sources at the party ahead of its dialogue with the EC at Nirbachan Bhaban on October 18.  

The party is also likely to propose unified posters during the polls. For example, each poster would carry the names, photos and party symbols of all the candidates in a constituency in an alphabetical order.

The AL would suggest that army remain as a strike force amid suggestions from many political parties for deployment of Armed Forces during the elections, the sources told The Daily Star recently.

During the talks, the AL delegation would argue that the election-time government would not only carry out the routine work but would also extend its full support to the EC for holding a free, fair and credible poll, added the sources.

Asked, party insiders said the AL is likely to take a stand against fresh delimitation of constituencies, saying the party secured landslide victory in the 2008 national elections with the existing demarcation.

On August 24, the EC started talks with 40 registered political parties seeking their opinion on the EC's preparations for the next general election likely to be held late next year or early 2019.

The commission has so far held dialogues with 25 registered parties. The ongoing dialogue is likely to end on October 19.

The AL has already held a number of intraparty meetings to discuss the issues to be raised during its dialogue with the EC. The party would finalise the proposals at its next working committee meeting, likely to be held on Saturday, a top AL leader said.

Earlier on January 11, the party had placed an 11-point proposal during its dialogue with President Abdul Hamid on formation of a new EC.

The proposals included limiting the jurisdiction of the election-time government as had been the legal provisions for the nonpartisan caretaker governments in the past.

The ruling party also recommended empowering the EC with supervising authority over the administration, law enforcement agencies and all other departments engaged in the election process.

According to party leaders, this time the party may again place another 11-point proposal to the EC in line with its talks with the president.

The AL also requested its allies of the 14-party alliance to place similar proposals to the Election Commission. The proposals included two vital issues -- holding the polls in line with the constitution and keeping army as a striking force during the election.

During the dialogue with the EC, the party is also likely to take position against "no vote" although most civil society members during their talks with the commission on July 30 advocated for having the system.

The provision was introduced by the caretaker government before the 2008 elections, but it was scrapped by the AL government in 2009.  

The party may also request the EC to update the voter list and propose for a stronger Election Commission so that it can hold a free, fair and credible election.

AL advisory council member Rashidul Alam, who is involved with drafting the proposals, told The Daily Star that they would request the commission to work in line with the constitutional provisions.

“We will propose the Election Commission to hold the election under the existing provisions of the constitution as it is not the proper time to change the constitution. If any provision of the constitution is required to be amended, it should be done after the next elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BNP, during its forthcoming talks with the EC at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday, would put emphasis on the election-time "supportive government", said a top BNP leader, who is involved in finalising the party proposals.

“We will argue that all other measures to hold a free and fair election would be useless unless a polls-time supportive government is there,” the BNP leader said wishing anonymity.

The party would also talk about "the government's interference in sending Chief Justice SK Sinha on a month's leave," he said.

BNP insiders also said party Chairperson Khaleda Zia had held a meeting with her senior leaders and gave them instructions on the dialogue before she left for London on July 15.

Sources also said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir would contact Khaleda before finalising the proposals.

Asked, a BNP standing committee member said apart from the election-time government issue, the party would also propose that parliament is dissolved and army is deployed before the elections, a level-playing field for all parties is ensured and controversial government officials are not given any type of election duties.