Published: 02:36 AM, 17 July 2017 Last Update: 02:42 AM, 17 July 2017
EC free from any influence
CEC says while unveiling eleventh parliamentary election roadmap
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda unveils roadmap for the next parliamentary election yesterday. AA Chief Election Commi-ssioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) will be able to keep the next parliamentary elections free from any sort of influence of the government and other quarters.
"It's not only about government influence, but also about any political party and local and international agencies...we'll be able to keep it free from any influence," he told a program arranged to unveil a booklet of EC's roadmap for the next general election at Nirbachon Bhaban in the city.
The CEC also hinted that the Election Commi-ssion has little scope to ensure a level-playing field for all political parties before the announcement of schedule for the next national election.
"It's not a matter of us rather of the government who will oversee which political parties can hold meetings and bring out processions on the streets or not. We're now thinking about only election and how the election can be made credible," he said.
"We've no role to play here to ensure the rights of political parties to hold meetings. But the Election Commission will oversee any hindrance to election campaign of any party and intimidation towards voters after the announcement of the election schedule," the CEC said responding to a questioner.
Replying to another question, he said it is the matter of the government's political decision over the format of the election-time government.
The CEC formally unveiled a booklet of the roadmap for the 11th general election. Four other election commissioners were present on the occasion. Earlier, the Election Commission finalized the roadmap incorporating seven agenda.
The agenda are electoral law reform, making electoral process time-befitting one, delimitation of constituencies, updating the voter list, preparing the list of possible polling stations, inviting application from new political parties to be registered with the EC, and the capacity building of officials for holding the national election.
As per the roadmap, the commission will start dialogue with political parties and other stakeholders on July 31 next.
The dialogue will begin with talks with civil society members. The dialogue with journalists will be held in August, while with 40 registered political parties from August to September next.
Besides, the Commission will sit in separate dialogues with election observers, women leaders and election management experts in October next. According to the roadmap, the Commission will complete re-demarcation of 300 parliamentary constituencies by December 2017.
"It's not only about government influence, but also about any political party and local and international agencies...we'll be able to keep it free from any influence," he told a program arranged to unveil a booklet of EC's roadmap for the next general election at Nirbachon Bhaban in the city.
The CEC also hinted that the Election Commi-ssion has little scope to ensure a level-playing field for all political parties before the announcement of schedule for the next national election.
"It's not a matter of us rather of the government who will oversee which political parties can hold meetings and bring out processions on the streets or not. We're now thinking about only election and how the election can be made credible," he said.
"We've no role to play here to ensure the rights of political parties to hold meetings. But the Election Commission will oversee any hindrance to election campaign of any party and intimidation towards voters after the announcement of the election schedule," the CEC said responding to a questioner.
Replying to another question, he said it is the matter of the government's political decision over the format of the election-time government.
The CEC formally unveiled a booklet of the roadmap for the 11th general election. Four other election commissioners were present on the occasion. Earlier, the Election Commission finalized the roadmap incorporating seven agenda.
The agenda are electoral law reform, making electoral process time-befitting one, delimitation of constituencies, updating the voter list, preparing the list of possible polling stations, inviting application from new political parties to be registered with the EC, and the capacity building of officials for holding the national election.
As per the roadmap, the commission will start dialogue with political parties and other stakeholders on July 31 next.
The dialogue will begin with talks with civil society members. The dialogue with journalists will be held in August, while with 40 registered political parties from August to September next.
Besides, the Commission will sit in separate dialogues with election observers, women leaders and election management experts in October next. According to the roadmap, the Commission will complete re-demarcation of 300 parliamentary constituencies by December 2017.
