Staff Reporter :
Political leaders and stakeholders have called for the establishment of an impartial government during elections, a mandatory three-year party membership to qualify as candidates, and direct elections for women’s seats.
These recommendations emerged from a seminar organized by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at the CIRDAP Auditorium on Saturday.
Electoral Process in Crisis
Former Election Commissioner M. Sakhawat Hossain, now an adviser to the interim government overseeing the Ministry of Textiles
and Jute as well as the Shipping Ministry, emphasized the collapse of the political structure and stressed the need to overhaul the electoral process.
On the role of Returning Officers, Hossain clarified, “It is incorrect to say that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) conduct elections.
There are provisions to deploy returning officers for 300 constituencies, but the law does not mandate that DCs must be appointed for this role.”
He also suggested that the Election Commission should be granted some oversight powers over the government during elections.
Candidature Criteria and Women’s Representation
Hossain recommended that candidates must hold at least three years of primary party membership to contest elections.
He also emphasized the need to begin candidate selection from the grassroots level one to two years ahead of elections.
“The opportunity for women to contest through direct elections is essential. Currently, women in reserved seats do not have any direct participation,” he added.
Need for Neutral Governance and Electoral Reform
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Head of the Election Reform Commission and Secretary of SHUJAN, underscored that appointing the Election Commission falls under the interim government’s purview.
“Our role is to recommend reforms, but we lack decision-making authority,” he said. He criticized the abolition of the caretaker government, calling it an unconstitutional move intended to prolong political power.
Majumdar stressed the need for political parties and law enforcement agencies to act impartially.
“If political parties engage in manipulation, money power, or coercion, and if the media fails to provide accurate information, fair elections will be impossible,” he warned.
He highlighted the need for political consensus and cultural change to ensure election integrity.
Bicameral Parliament and Institutional Reforms
Junaid Saki, Chief Coordinator of the Ganasanghati Andolon, criticized political parties for their lack of sincerity toward fair elections.
“They seek brute majorities when given the chance. Institutional reforms are necessary, and at least three to five elections should be held under neutral governments,” he suggested.
Saki also noted rising demands for a bicameral parliament and proposed forming an interim government with members from an upper house to oversee elections until such a system becomes unnecessary.
Proportional Representation and Other Proposals
Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Secretary of Dhaka South City Jamaat-e-Islami, shared nine electoral reform proposals, including the implementation of a proportional representation system to ensure inclusivity.
He called for the restoration of a permanent caretaker government, noting that past elections under such administrations were widely accepted.
Islam also demanded the abolition of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and proposed that government employees should not contest elections within three years of leaving their positions.
Additionally, he recommended holding non-partisan local elections and conducting national elections over multiple days to ensure broader participation.
Call for Constitutional Overhaul
Nurul Haque Nur, President of the Gana Adhikar Parishad, condemned the political dominance of BNP and Jamaat within the administration and called for neutral elections. He advocated for scrapping the existing constitution and drafting a new one, favoring non-partisan local elections and a proportional representation system.
The seminar, titled “What Reforms Are Needed in the Electoral System,” was presided over by RFED President Akramul Haque Sayem and moderated by RFED General Secretary Md. Humayun Kabir.