BNP gives 20-point proposal for fair polls

BNP today said it wants the next general elections to be held under a supportive government with deployment of armed forces with magistracy power after dissolution of parliament, reports BSS.

The party gave the proposal to the Election Commission (EC) in the dialogue, being held on holding the next general elections in a free, fair and credible manner.

A BNP delegation led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir gave a 20-point proposal to the EC in the dialogue that lasted more than two and a half hours from 11 am. Presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, the dialogue was attended, among others, by EC commissioners and acting secretary of the EC Secretariat.

After the dialogue, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that BNP's 20-point proposal also included withdrawal of all 'false' cases filed against its leaders and activists before the election. He said they proposed that the Commission take steps from now on to ensure the rights of all political parties to hold public rallies and political programmes.

The BNP leader said they also want the EC to take steps for dissolving the parliament 90 days before the vote.

Their proposals also included restoring the pre-2008 delimitation of 300 parliamentary constituencies, empowering the EC to take steps for creating a level-playing field before the announcement of election schedule and not using EVM in the polls.Replaying to a question, Alamgir said they, after the dialogue, are hopeful of a positive role of the Election Commission.

The Election Commission on August 24 last started dialogues with 40 registered political parties to take their opinions over the EC's preparations for the next national election likely to be held in December 2018. So far, the Commission has held dialogues with 32 parties. The EC will hold talks with Awami League on October 18.