EC’s dialogue with political parties ends without any hope

Noman Mosharef :
The Election Commission’s (EC) two steps dialogue with political parties and various stakeholders ended without showing any hope.
 In the first phase on March 13, EC had dialogue with representatives of different quarters, including political parties, election experts, political scientists, academics, and journalists to fix a roadmap for the next general election.
In second phase in July 17, EC talked with political parties to discussions about the electronic voting machine (EVM) issue and seek their suggestions on making the upcoming 12th parliamentary polls participatory.
Two dialogues were organized aiming to find out a path to hold an acceptable election by all. However, EC disappointed that they could not reach any concrete decision over holding polls.
EC commissioner Md Alamgir said it is very frustrating matter for me that to say as our long run dialogues with political parties and stakeholders have been ended without any fruitful results.
He said even political parties were not able to come under any consent about the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).
During dialogue 28 political parties have been given 300 and more proposal in EC. Of them a few is possible to implement by EC. Specially, EC has nothing to do in the issue of polls time govt. and proportional representation system.
Commissioner Md Alamgir said it is not matter of EC. Responsibility goes to political parties to solve these issues. Our only duty is to organize free, fair and acceptable polls.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN): Citizens for Good Governance said what is EC’s responsibility, they have to know. Their duty is not to act as puppet and implement any political party agenda.
SHUJAN Secretary said one sided election doesn’t mean fair polls.
In this situation, EC will consider the proposals and will make a roadmap for next parliamentary polls. It is known that EC will organize another phase of dialogue in September.
EC commissioner Md Alamgir said we will sit with political parties again and invite
all parties to talk including Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) also. BNP did not take part in two previous dialogues.
Besides, the big question is that the next parliamentary polls will be held by following existing system or another? To give answer to the question, the experts said that without government will, the past will come back.