EC ready to talk on draft reform with nominated party men

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The Election Commission (EC) Wednesday indicated its readiness to discuss the proposed reform of electoral laws with the political parties if they send their nominated representatives for the dialogue, reports UNB.
Meanwhile, the EC will sit with Jatiya Party (Nilu) at 3:00 pm today (Thursday) as the party sought the meeting to discuss affairs, Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said.
However, the EC didn't make it clear whether it would invite the political parties to sit.
"We are open (to discuss)… We don't have any objection if they (representatives) come with authorisation (from their parties)," Sakhawat told reporters at his office Wednesday afternoon.
The EC would also give the nominated representatives schedules as to who should come when, he said. "We aren't going to sit with whosoever comes."
"I can't tell that now," Sakhawat quipped when asked if the EC would invite the political parties to sit for discussion on their draft reform proposals already unveiled.
Asked whether sending nominated representatives wouldn't be considered political activities, and who would ensure their security (of not being arrested), the Election Commissioner said he couldn't tell that.
"Wait and see," he said when asked if the situation is favourable for sitting with the political parties against the backdrop of the caretaker government advisers' remarks that the government may allow parties to hold council to adopt their reform proposals if they sought permission.