Bikalpadhara wants all-party govt during election

Photo: Collected

Dhaka: Bikalpadhara Bangladesh on Tuesday proposed the government to form an all-party government during the 11th national election with representatives from the parties that had representation in the 9th parliament.

"We want an all-party government with representatives from the parties that had representation in the 9th parliament... the previous parliament was formed through a credible election," party chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury told reporters after dialogue with the Election Commission (EC).

Arguing against the formation of election-time government with representatives of the parties having representation in the current parliament, he said, "There's a basic question whether the present parliament has any legitimacy. Why do we call it legitimate as half of the total constituencies saw no election and the voter turnout was actually very low?"

A 14-member Bikalpadhara delegation, led by its president Badruddoza Chowdhury, placed a 13-point proposal participating in an EC dialogue held at Nirbachan Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

The Bikalpadhara chief said they did not place any proposal over formation of the election-time government before the EC as it has no power in this regard.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had offered Khaleda Zia before the last general election to give BNP the charge of three ministries, including Home and Public Administration, during the election.

"That was an excellent proposal. The Prime Minister's words, I think, aren't hollow ones. Once committed, you're committed."

Badruddoza Chowdhury, also former President, said his party proposed the Election Commission to deploy army for 45 days from 30 days before the election. But it didn't want the magistracy power of the army during their election duty, he added.

He said his party proposed that all the election officers -- Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi officers, officers-in-charge of police stations and polling officers -- will have to take oath in public touching their respective religious texts to refrain from any election anomaly.

The former President said they proposed abolishing the provision of polling agents of candidates. "If the agents are inside the polling stations, they'll influence voters and hamper their free choice."

B Chowdhury said this Commission is still trying to earn the public confidence and it has also made clear promises to this end.

Bikalpadhara's other proposals include restoration of 'No Vote' provision, no delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies ahead of the next general election.

"Some parliamentary constituencies are re-demarcated by the Election Commission ahead of every national election, which created controversies and cast adverse impacts on public mind. So, there's no need for delimitation of constituencies (before next election)," the party said in one of their written proposals.

The Election Commission on August 24 last started dialogues with 40 registered political parties to receive their opinions over the EC's preparation for the 11th national election likely to be held in December 2018.

Bikalpadhara Secretary General Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan was among the delegation members.