National election and referendum should be held simultaneously: Nur after meeting CEC

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur today (29 October) said there is no practical reason to hold the national election and referendum separately, stressing that both should take place at the same time.

He made the statement at a press briefing after a seven-member party delegation met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and other election commissioners for an hour, submitting a written list of nine demands. The party's Vice President Faruk Hasan also spoke at the briefing. 

Nur said collaborators of the former fascist government should not be allowed to take part in electoral dialogues. 

He welcomed the Election Commission's (EC) proposal that candidates in electoral alliances must contest the national election under their own party symbol, calling it a positive step.

"The EC has been asked to ensure that, in addition to the Awami League, the Jatiyo Party is also barred from participating. This demand has been conveyed to the government as well," he added.

The Gono Odhikar Parishad also urged the EC to bar any adviser of the interim government from contesting the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. 

"No adviser of the government or anyone benefiting from the government should be allowed to participate in this immediate election.

The EC should be concerned about this matter. Otherwise, the election will be questioned," Nur said.

He also warned of a potential crisis if the election is delayed, saying, "If this division and fragmentation persist with the July Charter now, the election cannot be held on time. The election will be obstructed, and if it is delayed, political parties, the EC, the government, and ultimately the country will face a severe crisis, a disaster."

Nur urged that if any uncertainty arises a month before voting, the commission should consult with the head of government to resolve the matter and ensure smooth electoral preparations.

During the meeting, the party also called for CCTV cameras to be installed at all polling stations, despite the high cost, to ensure transparency. 

"No restrictions should be imposed on journalists performing their professional duties," Nur said.

Urges EC to stay independent

Talking about the NCP's demand for 'Shapla' symbol, Nurul Haque Nur said that if a party symbol is not published in the gazette, it must be selected from the Election Commission's list. "The same has happened with the symbol for Gono Odhikar Parishad." 

He urged other parties not to create controversy for the EC to serve their own interests.

Advising the Election Commission to maintain firmness in its decisions, Nur said, "The EC should straighten its backbone when making decisions."

No decision yet on joining any alliance

On the party's electoral strategy, Nur said, "At this moment, as a rising party, we are working to select candidates for 300 seats nationwide and introducing them publicly. We are also focusing on public relations. We have not yet decided to join any alliance, but discussions are ongoing."

Mentioning that they have a long-standing understanding with the BNP, he said talks are underway with Jamaat as well as exploring the possibility of forming an alternative political alliance outside BNP and Jamaat. 

"Meetings and discussions have been held with many parties, but no final decision has been made yet," he said. 

Earlier in the day, a seven-member delegation from the Gono Odhikar Parishad held an hour-long meeting with the CEC and other election commissioners.

During the meeting, the Gono Odhikar Parishad urged the Election Commission to include a provision barring any adviser of the interim government from contesting the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. 

The party submitted a written list of nine demands.

The party also called for CCTV cameras to be installed at all polling stations, despite the high cost, to ensure transparency.

Representatives from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and AB Party have already held meetings with the CEC to discuss various electoral issues, including the upcoming parliamentary elections, referendum, and proposed amendments to the RPO.

The Election Commission is expected to hold meetings with political parties in November as part of the final round of its series of dialogues with stakeholders.

The commission is making strong preparations to hold the national polls in the first half of February, before Ramadan.