An exchange of views was held between the newly-formed Election Commission and the Electoral Reform Commission on Wednesday where both parties highlighted the major deficits, including lack of voters’ trust on the electoral system.
The newly appointed chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and the ERC chief Badiul Alam Majumder led their teams in the event held at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
After the meeting, election commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah, also a retired Brigadier General, briefed journalists on behalf of the EC.
He said that the meeting highlighted major deficits in the electoral systems including lack of voters’ trust.  Â
‘Both EC and ERC are on the same side. We are determined to organise free and fair elections so that the electoral system regains the voters’ trust,’ Fazal said, adding that the schedule of the next election was not included in the meeting agenda.
ERC chief Badiul said they discussed every issue to organise a free, fair and credible election.
Faults of the previous ECs, nomination procedure, polling booths, demarcation of constituencies, final voter lists, expatriate voters, postal vote and national identification card were among the prominent issues discussed.
‘The reform commission would submit the recommendation report by this month. Some of our recommendations would be implemented by the EC and the next elected government would implement the rest of them,’ Badiul Alam said, adding that the ERC would seek suggestions from the EC as well to prepare its report.
Citing court orders empowering the EC, he also said, ‘The previous ECs failed to hold free and fair elections even the existing laws hugely empower them to do. They must be held accountable.’
Other election commissioners — retired additional secretary Anwarul Islam Sarkar, retired district and sessions judge Abdur Rahmanel Masud, retired joint secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmad — and ERC members Professor Tofail Ahmed, Jasmine Tully, Md Abdul Alim, Zahed Ur Rahman, Mir Nadia Nivin, Md Sadek Ferdous and Sadique Arman were present in the meeting.
