EC starts talks on election observer recommendations

The Election Commission (EC) has started a dialogue with stakeholders to discuss recommendations on election observation as it considers reforms for future polls, reports agencies.

The commission said the proposals would help shape both its short- and long-term plans.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah inaugurated the two-day dialogue at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday. He said the EC had received various recommendations from observer groups and other stakeholders before and after the parliamentary election.

He said the commission would review the proposals and use them to set reform priorities for future elections.

Sanaullah added that the EC had sought opinions from observer groups and stakeholders throughout the electoral process and hoped the dialogue would generate further recommendations to make elections more inclusive.

The commissioner said all proposals would be reviewed with a view to implementing priority reforms before the next election.

After holding the February election, the EC has been preparing for local government polls.

It has also been gathering stakeholder feedback on changes to election rules.

A number of local and international organisations observed the national election.

Reports have already been submitted by the European Union, the Asian Network for Free Elections and the Commonwealth Observer Group. More than 50 representatives, including local election observers, civil society organisations, and election officials, are taking part in the dialogue.

, organised jointly by the European Partnership for Democracy and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.