Jamaat seeks major changes in administration before polls

Jamaat-e-Islami has called for the simultaneous transfer of all deputy commissioners and police superintendents across Bangladesh once the Election Commission (EC) formally announces the schedule for the upcoming national elections, reports bdnews24.com.
At a dialogue with the EC in the capital on Wednesday, the party said recent reshuffles in the civil administration and police 'appear to be happening from a particular place with a specific intention', raising concerns about neutrality ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.
Jamaat leaders said that after the schedule is issued, the administrative authority at the district level comes under the EC's control, and therefore a full overhaul is needed to restore public confidence.
They also proposed that such transfers be conducted through a lottery system if necessary to eliminate political influence.
The meeting was attended by representatives from seven parties, including Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP). Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, election commissioners and the EC secretary were present.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told the commission that senior officials had been moved within a short span of time.
"These changes didn't happen over a month, not even 20 days. It seems as though this is being done according to a plan, from a specific place, with a purpose."
He added that similar mass transfers had taken place immediately after the announcement of the schedule in past elections, and the decisions had been accepted without complaint.
Urging the EC to take immediate action, he said: "What is happening appears planned and intentional."