The Electoral Reforms Commission has written to 22 political parties and alliances to seek their opinion on electoral reforms. Letters have already been sent to these parties and alliances.
Sources in the Reforms Commission told the Bangla Tribune that on the advice of the commission, the highest levels of the government agreed to write letters to the political parties. The source said that the government has played a role in the election of these parties and alliances.
The government has also decided to whom the letter can be given and to whom it cannot be given, reliable sources of the commission said this information.
According to high-level sources of the commission, the Election Reform Commission has already sent a letter to 22 political parties and alliances urging them to submit written comments. Among these 22 parties and alliances is Jamaat-e-Islami.
A member of the commission said that although the Jamaat is not registered with the Election Commission, a letter has been sent to the party. A member of the commission told the Bangla Tribune on Monday (November 11) night in response to a question whether there could be any legal obstacles in the future, 'They will be resolved. The government has seen them. These are not our decisions, but the government's decisions.'
On October 3, Dr. formed the Election Reform Commission. Yunus led interim government. In the meantime, the commission has started reviewing the laws and regulations related to the election. In this process, the commission also wants the opinion of the general public. Opinions can be given till November 15.
If you want to know, the head of the commission, Professor Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar told Bangla Tribune, 'We have already sent letters to political parties and alliances. At the same time we started consultation. I spoke to former Chief Election Commissioner Abu Hena. We have now identified some areas for comment. Some areas are our priority, we have identified them.
'Now we are taking feedback from the general public and have set up a website, taking feedback on e-mail addresses. We are taking recommendations from people. We are reading all the laws and regulations line by line.'
Badiul Alam Majumder said in response to the question of when the commission will report, “It will not be before December, there is a lot of work.”
According to commission sources, the government was not in favor of discussions or taking opinions with political parties. Later, when the political parties were advised not to 'avoid' from within the commission, the government agreed and to whom (the letter) would and would not be given, these were also mentioned.
In this context, Professor Badiul Alam Majumder said, 'What we will take from the political parties is their recommendation. We will not dialogue with political parties. Because we have no opportunity for dialogue. We have no chance of negotiation. Our work will be technical work, how many recommendations, we will take recommendations from them.'
Prof. Majumdar also said, “When negotiating with political parties, 'drop this' and 'add that' – we do not have the opportunity to do that.” It will be done by the interim government with political parties. When all the commissions submit their reports, then the interim government will sit with the political parties and try to reach a compromise.'
Incidentally, among the commission's committee's scope of work and related matters, it is notable – the clauses related to elections included in the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Representation of the People Order-1972 (RPO), one of which is the review of laws and regulations related to national and local elections, review of all forms related to elections, with a view to institutional reform. Preparation of recommendations (eg Election Commission, Election Commission Secretariat, Election Training Institute, Field Administration, National Identity Card-NID Registrar's Office), review of existing election procedures and necessary recommendations made up
There are also reviews and recommendations on the current election management system, reviewing and making recommendations on the necessary legal and technical aspects to ensure the voting rights of expatriates and electoral officials, women's participation in the electoral process, evaluating the past national elections held in Bangladesh and identifying weaknesses and lessons learned, neighboring Bangladesh. Reviewing countries' electoral processes and identifying lessons learned, taking feedback from stakeholders and preparing reports with recommendations for reform.
