Reform laws to ensure neutral role of election-time govt: TIB urges EC

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has urged the Election Commission (EC) to reform the necessary laws to ensure the neutral and conflict-free role of the election-time government during the next national polls.

TIB made the call in a meeting with the Election Commission at the EC Secretariat on Monday.

A six-member TIB delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal while other commissioners were present in the meeting, said a media release.

This meeting discussed the challenges of the election commission including ensuring participatory polls, creating a level playing field, ensuring accuracy and accountability in the election process, and graduation from the limitation of the law based on the research and observation by TIB, UNB reports.

Urging to create a level playing field for all political parties, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzman said, “The countrymen have expectations and worries about the character, behavior, size, and formation of the election-time government. The election commission can give specific suggestions to the government or authorities concerned about the behavior of the election-time government. Similarly, the commission can also give a proposal to reform the necessary laws.

“We have also given suggestions to the election commission to ensure uninterrupted information flow during the election, smooth operation of local and foreign observers, uninterrupted internet and mobile network, and error-free EVM which is acceptable to the stakeholders.”

Dr. Iftekharuzzman said, “The election commission has to hold a free, fair, neutral, and participatory election.  To ensure these, if the commission thinks that laws should be reformed, then it can propose this. Reforms of the laws and the constitution are nothing new in the country.”

The anti-graft body also made some suggestions to the election commission for a free, fair, and participatory poll.
TIB’s recommendations are – to reform the laws, earn the confidence of all stakeholders, create a level playing field, action against the election rules violators, publish information, publish the financial statement of the lawmakers, publish the financial statement of the political parties, digitalize the election process, local and foreign observers, and ensure free environment to collect information.