Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) has called upon the Election Commission (EC) to win people's confidence for holding a national election acceptable to all.
The national-level women's platform has also aired concern over the inclusion of communal forces in the political alliances saying it might lay a negative impact on the country's future politics.
The BMP came up with the observations at a press conference held at its Segunbaghica office in the capital on Sunday to press for the demand for holding the parliamentary polls slated for December 30 in a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and acceptable manner.
Rekha Chowdhury, acting movement secretary of the BMP, read out a written statement at the press briefing.
"The upcoming election will give the people an opportunity for establishing their democratic rights," she said.
She urged the womenfolk not to cast their votes in favour of those accused of women repression and corruption, the black money holders, religious fanatics and the anti-liberation forces.
She called upon the women voters to give their mandate to the worthy candidates giving value to their honesty and competence rather than considering their party affiliation.
Importance should be given to political stability, independence of judiciary and freedom of all constitutional organisations to give democracy a strong footing, she noted.
The BMP believes that progressive persons should be elected in the upcoming polls who believe in the spirit of the Liberation War, non-communalism, the Constitution of 1972 and gender equality for ensuring a meaningful parliamentary form of democracy in the country, she said.
The BMP at the event placed some recommendations for the EC that include not to allow communal forces in the election, to impose a ban on using religion during election campaign, inclusion of 30 per cent women representation in the political parties and implementation of the Article 90 of the Representation of the People Order -2008.
The organisation also called for halting use of black money and muscle power in the election, increasing the number booths so that women voters can cast their votes freely and smoothly.
The BMP also called upon the political parties contesting the polls to follow the Representation of the People Order-2008 and nominate more women candidates for the election with enough assistance to become victorious.
The organisation also expected the upcoming government (the one to be elected through the next general election) to establish the basic principles of the 1972 Constitution, arrange direct election for women reserved seats in parliament and increase one third of their seats, delimit the constituencies, stop repression against women and children and rightly implement the pledges in the election manifestos.
BMP president Ayesha Khanam and its general secretary Maleka Banu, among others, were present.
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