No dithering over holding poll by declared timeline: CA
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
RAJSHAHI, Aug 14 (UNB): Formally launching the national task of preparing the voter list from this northern city, Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed Tuesday said there is no room for hesitation and confusion over holding the parliamentary elections within the declared timeline.
The Chief Adviser said his government has been carrying out relentless efforts since assuming office seven months back to implement its final goal to arrange a free, fair and acceptable general election by December 2008.
He expressed the hope that the Election Commission (EC) would be able to accomplish the task by preparing the voter list according to their roadmap for holding the election in time.
Inaugurating the voter listing work with photos and national ID cards at Rajshahi Medical College Auditorium Tuesday morning, Ahmed urged the citizens to go to the registration centres to become voters and cast their votes to make the country's democratic future stronger.
Terming the beginning of the voter list preparation work as a milestone in the forward march of the country's democratic process, he said a flawless voter list is a prerequisite for holding a fair, neutral and acceptable election.
"The procedure now being followed to make the voter list must be easier to update the voter list every year, which will reduce debates on the electoral roll not only in the next election, but also in all future elections.
Ahmed said the EC will start preparing the electoral role in nine municipalities, districts and upazilas, including Khulna City Corporation, within this month and later on voter listing will start simultaneously across the country.
He said the important role being played by the armed forces in voter listing would be written in golden letters in the nation's history of democracy.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda, acting mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Rezaunnabi Dudu also spoke at the inaugural function chaired by District Commissioner (DC) of the district Mohammad Khalilur Rahman.
GOC of 11 Infantry Division Maj Gen Shamim Chowdhury, civil and military officials, local elite and representatives from different professions attended the function.
The CA said mere holding election is not enough for flourishing a democracy. "There is also a need of procedural change in order to ensure political and administrative transparency and accountability to strengthen the foundation of democracy."
He said the present Election Commission is very careful and aware, and it has already given indications of the necessity of registration of political parties and possible terms and conditions.
The Chief Adviser expressed the hope that the Election Commission would be able to finalise rules and regulations of reforms in the near future in consultations with political parties.
He said it would be easier to make politics free of pollution and prevent the use of black money and abuse of authority in political arena through the setting up of an appropriate legal framework and ensuring its application.
Consequently, he said, honest and dedicated persons would be encouraged to contest in the election apart from reducing election expenses and limiting the scope of criminalisation of politics.
Ahmed said it is undeniable that one prerequisite for truly democratic election is participation of political parties guided by democratic values.
He said after completing the preparation of the voter list, it would be released on website. "Even the relevant information of the candidates of parliament election could be published on website."
Ahmed said voters' information to be collected by the EC would be used for national ID cards.
He said the government has a plan to set up an organisation soon to ensure proper utilisation of the voters' database.
About various institutional reforms taking place under the present government, Ahmed said the reconstituted EC would be able to hold a free, fair and acceptable election fulfilling the aspiration of the nation.
He asked all concerned, including NGOs and other private organisations, to inspire the voters to take photos and give fingerprints at the registration centres.
The CA expressed the hope that a flawless voter list would be possible only when the task would be done transparently, efficiently and effectively. This will open up a new and golden door of the country's democratic potentials.
He urged all sections of the people, irrespective of party and opinion, to unitedly join this forward march of democracy for the greater welfare of the nation.
Later, the CA visited the voter registration centre at Shahid Mamun Mahmud Police Lines School and College in the city and inspected the digitised voter enrolment where a number of men and women appeared for voter enrolment.
Earlier, a senior official briefed the Chief Adviser at the Circuit House on the process of the digitised voter list with photographs and national ID cards.
The voting registration in Rajshahi City Corporation will be carried out among 2,74,128 voters in 30 wards. Some 1664 people are engaged in the voter listing process, of which 912 are data collectors, 182 supervisors, 30 assistant registration officers and 30 computer operators.
The Chief Adviser said his government has been carrying out relentless efforts since assuming office seven months back to implement its final goal to arrange a free, fair and acceptable general election by December 2008.
He expressed the hope that the Election Commission (EC) would be able to accomplish the task by preparing the voter list according to their roadmap for holding the election in time.
Inaugurating the voter listing work with photos and national ID cards at Rajshahi Medical College Auditorium Tuesday morning, Ahmed urged the citizens to go to the registration centres to become voters and cast their votes to make the country's democratic future stronger.
Terming the beginning of the voter list preparation work as a milestone in the forward march of the country's democratic process, he said a flawless voter list is a prerequisite for holding a fair, neutral and acceptable election.
"The procedure now being followed to make the voter list must be easier to update the voter list every year, which will reduce debates on the electoral roll not only in the next election, but also in all future elections.
Ahmed said the EC will start preparing the electoral role in nine municipalities, districts and upazilas, including Khulna City Corporation, within this month and later on voter listing will start simultaneously across the country.
He said the important role being played by the armed forces in voter listing would be written in golden letters in the nation's history of democracy.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda, acting mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Rezaunnabi Dudu also spoke at the inaugural function chaired by District Commissioner (DC) of the district Mohammad Khalilur Rahman.
GOC of 11 Infantry Division Maj Gen Shamim Chowdhury, civil and military officials, local elite and representatives from different professions attended the function.
The CA said mere holding election is not enough for flourishing a democracy. "There is also a need of procedural change in order to ensure political and administrative transparency and accountability to strengthen the foundation of democracy."
He said the present Election Commission is very careful and aware, and it has already given indications of the necessity of registration of political parties and possible terms and conditions.
The Chief Adviser expressed the hope that the Election Commission would be able to finalise rules and regulations of reforms in the near future in consultations with political parties.
He said it would be easier to make politics free of pollution and prevent the use of black money and abuse of authority in political arena through the setting up of an appropriate legal framework and ensuring its application.
Consequently, he said, honest and dedicated persons would be encouraged to contest in the election apart from reducing election expenses and limiting the scope of criminalisation of politics.
Ahmed said it is undeniable that one prerequisite for truly democratic election is participation of political parties guided by democratic values.
He said after completing the preparation of the voter list, it would be released on website. "Even the relevant information of the candidates of parliament election could be published on website."
Ahmed said voters' information to be collected by the EC would be used for national ID cards.
He said the government has a plan to set up an organisation soon to ensure proper utilisation of the voters' database.
About various institutional reforms taking place under the present government, Ahmed said the reconstituted EC would be able to hold a free, fair and acceptable election fulfilling the aspiration of the nation.
He asked all concerned, including NGOs and other private organisations, to inspire the voters to take photos and give fingerprints at the registration centres.
The CA expressed the hope that a flawless voter list would be possible only when the task would be done transparently, efficiently and effectively. This will open up a new and golden door of the country's democratic potentials.
He urged all sections of the people, irrespective of party and opinion, to unitedly join this forward march of democracy for the greater welfare of the nation.
Later, the CA visited the voter registration centre at Shahid Mamun Mahmud Police Lines School and College in the city and inspected the digitised voter enrolment where a number of men and women appeared for voter enrolment.
Earlier, a senior official briefed the Chief Adviser at the Circuit House on the process of the digitised voter list with photographs and national ID cards.
The voting registration in Rajshahi City Corporation will be carried out among 2,74,128 voters in 30 wards. Some 1664 people are engaged in the voter listing process, of which 912 are data collectors, 182 supervisors, 30 assistant registration officers and 30 computer operators.