More than half of civil society invitees skip EC dialogue
According to EC sources, 26 out of 30 invitees had confirmed their attendance in advance, but only 13 were present.
More than half of the civil society representatives invited by the Election Commission (EC) to its first round of pre-election dialogue yesterday (28 September) did not attend.
Although 30 members of the civil society and intellectuals were invited, more than half did not attend.
The dialogue began at around 10:45am at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, with only 13 representatives present.
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According to EC sources, 26 invitees had confirmed their attendance in advance.
Who attended and what they said
Those who participated were former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K Choudhury, former Jahangirnagar University professor Al Mahmud Hasanuzzaman, former ambassador Humayun Kabir, Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Yeahia Akhter, security analyst Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Prof Abdul Wazed, BGMEA Director Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, poet Mohon Raihan, Police Reform Commission member Mohammad Harun Chowdhury, student representative Zarif Rahman, Prof Robaeet Ferdous, TIB Director Muhammad Badiuzzaman and journalist Sohrab Hasan.
Speaking to reporters after the dialogue, Rasheda said the biggest challenge for the Election Commission will be expectation management. "The young generation, as well as senior citizens like us, all agree that it is a major challenge."
"Good intentions alone are not enough; courage is also needed. They must have the courage to hold a fair and acceptable election so that both workers as well as entrepreneurs can vote without fear," she added.
She also expressed concern about women's security during the polls and mob violence.
"Another big issue is female candidates. We have protested on behalf of the women's movement, expressing anger that even after so many years, only 5–7% of nominations are given to women. This is not acceptable, and we have raised it with the EC," Rasheda said.
Prof Robaeet Ferdous said the EC must expose any government interference in the electoral process. "It will be their duty to make it public before the media," he stressed, while also calling for the protection of minority voters to ensure they can vote freely and return home safely.
Meanwhile, journalist Sohrab Hasan noted that historically, governments have dominated the EC.
"A free, fair and transparent election is not possible without cooperation from the government, political parties and candidates," he added.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, four other commissioners and EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed attended the dialogue.
