Gain public trust: Civil society to EC

Civil society members in a dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) today discussed three agenda – gaining public confidence, army deployment and no-vote option during the next parliamentary elections.

“We stressed the three issues in detail during the discussion,” Debapriya Bhattacharya, Centre for Policy Dialogue's distinguished fellow, told this to reporters after a session with the election commissioners in the afternoon.

The EC began talks with the civil society members at the EC Secretariat around 11:00am over the issue of arranging the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda is chairing the discussion. Photo: Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

During the meeting, eminent economist and researcher Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman urged the commission members to dissolve the parliament before the next parliamentary election. 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda is chairing the discussion.

Talks to help political parties to reach a compromise: CEC  

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda hoped that all political parties will reach a mutual compromise through the talks to hold the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.

The CEC expressed his hope while talking to reporters after holding the talks.

The eminent civil society members called upon the election commission to ensure participation of all political parties and army deployment in the 11th parliamentary polls, the CEC said.

Election Commission begins a dialogue with civil society members on Monday, July 31, 2017 on the issue of arranging the upcoming parliamentary elections. Photo: Rashed Shumon

He said the civil society members observed that the election commission will have to earn people’s trust so that it can arrange an acceptable and impartial election under its supervision.

“We are holding talks with stakeholders as part of our initiatives to earn people’s trust in the commission,” Nurul Huda said.

About outcome of the talks, the CEC said the commission will make public all the recommendation given by the civil society members and other stakeholders in a book.

“And then, we will send the book to all political parties and the government to reach a decision for the sake of holding the next general election in fair and impartial manner,” he added.