EC waiting for final shape of reform proposal: Commissioner Masud

The Election Commission would decide its next step once the reform proposals over the electoral system are finalised, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said today (16 January).

"When everything comes into a shape or form, we will think about how to involve the EC in it. The sooner it comes, the better it will be for us to take preparation [for the next national election]," he said replying to a question from reporters at his office.

The commissioner refused to say anything in advance about the reform proposal but remarked that the sooner the EC would receive the proposals, the more helpful it would be in the preparations. 

"At this point, we cannot comment in advance. We can think about it when it comes. There is a proposal to create an upper house and a lower house of parliament, there is a matter of amending the constitution. When everything takes shape, we will think about how to involve the EC," he said.

On Wednesday, the Electoral System Reform Commission along with three other reform commissions submitted their respective reports to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.

The election commissioner said the EC is always ready for the national election. He said the Election Commission is committed to run fair, transparent and impartial elections.

In reply to another question, he said, "It is a matter of trust. We cannot imagine 'voting at night'. If we get the cooperation of all, we are confident that we will be able to give the nation a neutral and nice election," he said.

The Electoral System Reform Commission in its report has recommended re-election in a constituency if the voter turnout is less than 40 percent, introduction of "no vote" provision to stop unopposed election, and the elimination of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

It also recommended barring political parties from maintaining associate bodies among students, teachers, and workers, as well as their foreign chapters.

Other recommendations include defence division in the definition of law enforcement agencies for election time, prioritizing the Election Commission's own officials in appointment as returning officers and assistant returning officers, and changing a provision for an independent candidate to acquire support from 500 voters instead of submitting signatures of 1 percent of the voters.

The reform commission suggested the Election Commission should be empowered to postpone or cancel elections and to conduct re-elections as well as entrusted with the sole responsibility of appointing the EC Secretary.

The commission, headed by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, placed some 150 reform recommendations in its report.