The Election Commission has drafted a roadmap for the next parliamentary election and decided to begin dialogues with political parties this July to get their opinions on different issues, including a reform of electoral laws and delimitation of constituencies.

The roadmap that does not have any mention of the use of electronic voting machine in the eleventh national election was made public yesterday at a briefing at the EC office in the capital's Agargaon. 

“My clear message is that we will not impose EVM if political parties oppose it. We'll not take risk,” Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda told reporters.

However, the issue will be discussed with political parties, he said. 

Both the Awami League and the BNP welcomed the move by the EC to start dialogues with political parties.

The BNP also appreciated EC's position regarding the use of EVM. 

Talking on phone, AL Joint Secretary General Mahbubul Alam Hanif said different political parties would come up with their own formula to hold free, fair and neutral elections during their dialogue with the EC.

“The Election Commission will be able to fine-tune the mechanisms suggested for holding an acceptable and participatory election.”

On the EC's plan not to use EVM, Hanif said his party would insist on using EVM in the next polls because the traditional system of casting ballots often created confusion infuriating defeated candidates.

“Defeated candidates often raise allegations of mistakes in counting votes and casting of false votes in elections. The use of EVM will end such controversy over election results.”

Welcoming the draft roadmap, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said it was a good move to hold dialogues. “We also welcome the Election Commission's decision not to use EVM.”

According to the roadmap, dialogues with registered political parties will kick off in mid or late July and will continue until November.

Apart from political parties, the EC will also have talks with civil society members and, if possible, journalists, the CEC said. It may take another 15-20 days to finalise the roadmap.

The EC has given priority to seven issues in the roadmap including a reform of electoral laws to free the election from the use of black money and muscle power and to create a level-playing field for all political parties.

The other issues are -- making the electoral process easier and time-befitting, delimitation of constituencies, updating the voter list, preparing the list of possible polling stations, registration of new political parties and capacity building of officials for conducting the national election.

Asked about the tentative date to hold the next general election, CEC Nurul Huda said it was yet to be fixed.

According to the constitution, the election will be held within 90 days after the completion of the tenure of the tenth parliament, he pointed out.