PDP proposes change in permanent allocation of election symbols
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
The caretaker government made it clear that it had no 'secret understanding' with any of the political parties, as there has been some confusion created over recent dealings with a major party, reports UNB.
The categorical statement from government side came as the new-generation Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), which supports the sweeping reforms under the interim regime, wanted clarification over the speculations particularly involving government's negotiations with Awami League (AL).
Speaking at a post-dialogue joint press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office, PDP Convener Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi said they asked openly at the dialogue about people's perception that the present interim government has 'understanding' with a certain political party, indicating Awami League.
He quoted Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed as having told them that "the caretaker government has no secret discussion with any political party".
The head of caretaker government once again assured that the next general election would be held transparently following the set roadmap.
In this context, Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters at the briefing that they wanted to clearly state that the present government wanted to advance following the roadmap, involving all political parties in reflection of the government's principles.
"We want to create a level playing field for healthy competition of political parties in the election," he added.
To a question about specific government principles, he mentioned reform of electoral rules, roadmap, giving attention to people's demands for attaining the key objective of holding meaningful election, qualitative change in politics, and ensuring post-election stability.
Dr Zillur said the caretaker government wants to clear its perception to the people through informing them what the government is doing.
Indicating threat of some major political parties to boycott or resist elections, PDP leader Qureshi said participation of voters is the only yardstick for election, no matter whether any political party participates or not.
They believe that presently minimum 60 per cent voters want to participate in the elections ahead as they got the people's pulse during talks with people across the country.
"People are election-oriented," he said.
Replying to a question, Qureshi said an election would be acceptable if majority voters participate and cast vote, "notwithstanding any major political party participates or not".
The newly floated party's chief thanked and congratulated the caretaker government on its strong steps to hold local-government elections and favoured holding all the local polls, including Upazila elections, before election to parliament.
He pointed out that it had been noticed in the past that political parties before parliamentary elections had pledged to hold local elections, particularly Upazila election, but after election forming government backtracked on it.
About present political equations, he said, "Big parties of the past will always remain big one - this is not correct."
The PDP also proposed a change in the trend of permanent allocation of election symbols to the political parties, saying that rather the Election Commission should allocate election symbols afresh to political parties before each election.
Placing logic behind this proposition, they observed that voters only vote for a particular symbol, even not the party, without judging the worth of candidates.
The partly placed and discussed other proposals in the dialogue include addition of 100 national seats to the 300 parliamentary constituency-based seats and proportional allocation of seats to different political parties on the basis of overall results of national elections, listing out identified criminals and musclemen constituency-wise and hanging those lists in thanas and taking steps against them.
They also proposed that the anti-corruption drive should be carried on and trial process against those having specific corruption charges against them accomplished before the polls.
Regarding the PDP proposals like an additional 100 national seats and change in permanent allocation of election symbols, Dr Zillur said they want to proceed discussing with all the proposals and new ideas.
Today's dialogue was the 16th dialogue between the caretaker government and political parties and various stakeholder groups that began May 22..
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed along with two advisers concerned was present at the dialogue.
The categorical statement from government side came as the new-generation Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), which supports the sweeping reforms under the interim regime, wanted clarification over the speculations particularly involving government's negotiations with Awami League (AL).
Speaking at a post-dialogue joint press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office, PDP Convener Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi said they asked openly at the dialogue about people's perception that the present interim government has 'understanding' with a certain political party, indicating Awami League.
He quoted Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed as having told them that "the caretaker government has no secret discussion with any political party".
The head of caretaker government once again assured that the next general election would be held transparently following the set roadmap.
In this context, Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters at the briefing that they wanted to clearly state that the present government wanted to advance following the roadmap, involving all political parties in reflection of the government's principles.
"We want to create a level playing field for healthy competition of political parties in the election," he added.
To a question about specific government principles, he mentioned reform of electoral rules, roadmap, giving attention to people's demands for attaining the key objective of holding meaningful election, qualitative change in politics, and ensuring post-election stability.
Dr Zillur said the caretaker government wants to clear its perception to the people through informing them what the government is doing.
Indicating threat of some major political parties to boycott or resist elections, PDP leader Qureshi said participation of voters is the only yardstick for election, no matter whether any political party participates or not.
They believe that presently minimum 60 per cent voters want to participate in the elections ahead as they got the people's pulse during talks with people across the country.
"People are election-oriented," he said.
Replying to a question, Qureshi said an election would be acceptable if majority voters participate and cast vote, "notwithstanding any major political party participates or not".
The newly floated party's chief thanked and congratulated the caretaker government on its strong steps to hold local-government elections and favoured holding all the local polls, including Upazila elections, before election to parliament.
He pointed out that it had been noticed in the past that political parties before parliamentary elections had pledged to hold local elections, particularly Upazila election, but after election forming government backtracked on it.
About present political equations, he said, "Big parties of the past will always remain big one - this is not correct."
The PDP also proposed a change in the trend of permanent allocation of election symbols to the political parties, saying that rather the Election Commission should allocate election symbols afresh to political parties before each election.
Placing logic behind this proposition, they observed that voters only vote for a particular symbol, even not the party, without judging the worth of candidates.
The partly placed and discussed other proposals in the dialogue include addition of 100 national seats to the 300 parliamentary constituency-based seats and proportional allocation of seats to different political parties on the basis of overall results of national elections, listing out identified criminals and musclemen constituency-wise and hanging those lists in thanas and taking steps against them.
They also proposed that the anti-corruption drive should be carried on and trial process against those having specific corruption charges against them accomplished before the polls.
Regarding the PDP proposals like an additional 100 national seats and change in permanent allocation of election symbols, Dr Zillur said they want to proceed discussing with all the proposals and new ideas.
Today's dialogue was the 16th dialogue between the caretaker government and political parties and various stakeholder groups that began May 22..
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed along with two advisers concerned was present at the dialogue.