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EC to hold talks with parties in July-Nov

The Election Commission (EC) will hold talks with the registered political parties, civil society, media personalities and observers concerned in July-November this year to ensure the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections credible and acceptable to all.Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda told this to newsmen after emerging a meeting the working plan and implementation and finalization of time schedule of the proposed “Road Map” at his conference room in the city.“The commission would hold dialogues with the registered political parties concerned onetime before the next general election,” the CEC said.He said the commission would talks about seven points including boundary re-demarcation, review of the law, update of the voter list, new voter registration, enhancement of EC`s power at vote centre and ensuring level playing field for all.The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was not in the draft roadmap because the EC would not introduce the EVM if political parties are not interested, Huda said, adding, “But the EVM issue would be brought in the dialogue.”During the talks, political parties showed their interest for EVM then the EC would introduce the EVM in the elections or not, he added.Huda, however, said the 11th Jatiya Sangsad election will be held before 90 days of the present government`s tenure.Among others, election commissioners Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Shahdat Hossain Chowdhury and additional secretary of the EC Mokhlesur Rahman were present.Chaired by the chief election commissioner, the meeting also formed four separate committees headed by each commissioner.Source: BSS