EC gets 531 proposals in talks with political parties

The Election Commission (EC) has received a total of 531 proposals from 40 political parties in the dialogue on the next general elections, reports bdnews24.com.
The division among the parties over the election-time government is clear in their proposals.
The ruling Awami League and its allies are in favour of keeping Sheikh Hasina prime minister during the election as per the Constitution.
But, its rival the BNP and its partners have pushed for a non-partisan polls-time government.
The main opposition in Parliament, Jatiya Party, and two other parties have proposed a government with the parties that have representation in Parliament.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) is among 12 parties that want dissolution of the parliament before the election.
The EC, however, does not have the authority to implement these proposals on the polls-time government.
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has said the EC will raise such issues with the government.
The parties also have differences over deployment of the army during the election.
Nineteen of them are favouring mobilisation of troops during the polls. They include the BNP, which has also proposed judicial powers for the army.
But most of the proposals are similar in nature and under the EC's jurisdiction.
Some of these agreed proposals are ensuring a level playing field, neutrality, inclusiveness, no government facility in campaign, voting rights for expatriates, online submission of nomination papers, scrapping the rule making one per cent voters' support a must for nomination, and keeping the home, public administration and local government ministries under the EC during the polls.
The other such proposals include keeping alleged war criminals, terrorists, and Rohingya refugees out of voter list, barring convicts of criminal cases from taking part in the election, and publishing the same poster for all the parties.
After taking charge in February, the Nurul Huda-led commission will organise the 11th parliamentary election, scheduled for late 2018 or early 2019.
The EC earlier held talks with representatives of citizens and the media.
The dialogue with the political parties took place from Aug 24 to Oct 19.
EC Acting Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told the news agency that the talks with the political parties ended 'successfully'.
"Everyone has been sincere and cooperative. The EC feels at ease after organising the talks successfully," he said.
The EC will sit with the election observers, women leaders and polls experts on Oct 22, 23 and 24 respectively.
Helal Uddin said the commission will make a report with the agreed proposals under its jurisdiction.