BNP Vice President MK Anwar Thursday said the party forum would decide whether to join the dialogue on electoral reforms with the Election Commission (EC), reports bdnews24.com.
"But no party meetings are now possible due to the prevalent ban on political deliberations. We are not opposed to discussing things, you see," Anwar said in an interview with the news agency.
"The EC has taken a well-meant step to initiate electoral reforms dialogue. But to make it effective, the ban on political activities must go," the former BNP minister said.
The EC is set to start dialogue with the political parties on electoral reforms starting from September 15. September 22 has been set for the EC meeting with the BNP.
Anwar said the EC needs to be made independent first and only then should it conduct a proper election.
He said making the EC truly independent might require amendment of its regulations.
"Excepting a few changes here and there the EC is more or less the same entity, as its authority and scope both remain limited as before."
"I think the EC needs urgent reforms to its manpower and financial capacity."
"For instance, the EC still has to depend on the finance ministry to tailor its budget. As for appointment of the chief election commissioner and other commissioners, new rules have to be in place to avoid controversies over such issues in future," said the former bureaucrat.
The government should relax the restraints on political activities as soon as possible to render the EC dialogues meaningful, he added.
BNP forum to decide on dialogue with EC: MK Anwar
FE Team | Published: August 31, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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