The number of the "no votes" cast will not, however, affect the election results, the draft said, adding that this statistics might rather be used only for academic purpose.

The EC disclosed the proposals on electoral reforms at a meeting with the editors of different national dailies and senior journalists at the National Economic Council conference room.

The draft presented yesterday has a few new proposals included in the original draft of the EC upon the caretaker government's advice. The original draft was disclosed on April 5.

In a bid to empower women politically, the EC also proposed that every registered political party must have specific provision in its constitution for including at least 33 percent women as office bearers of its central committee and other committees at different levels.

The EC also drafted a few provisions for imposing bans on political parties' having front organisations comprising students, teachers and workers. According to the proposal, the registration of a party would be cancelled if it violates any of these provisions.

In defence of the proposal for introducing the no-vote system, the EC said in the existing system voters cannot express their unwillingness to cast vote for any contesting candidate. As a result, a candidate is elected and made people's representative even when they do not have the support of the majority voters of the constituency concerned.

Sources at the EC Secretariat said this proposal was drafted after the EC's April 26 meeting with civil society personalities.

A few editors wanted to know what would be the poll result in a constituency where over 50 percent voters cast "no votes". They recommended holding fresh polls in such constituencies.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said the EC will consider the recommendations.

On de-linking front organisations from the political parties, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said the EC has asked the government to repeal the political party Act formulated in 1978 during the rule of Ziaur Rahman that allowed a party to have such front organisations.

"Now, we are including some new provisions in the Representation of People Order 1972 asking the political parties to dissolve their front organisations otherwise they will not get registration," Huda said.

According to the EC draft proposals, no registered political party shall form any front organisation with the students of any educational institution. The registered political parties will not also form any front organisations with the teachers of any public or non-government educational institutions, which receive financial aid from the government.

"No registered political party shall form any front organisation with the employees of government and non-government financial institutions, or commercial or industrial establishments, and a registered political party shall not engage in activities of any labour organisation. The registration of a political party shall stand cancelled for non-compliance with the provisions," said the EC proposals.

The original draft proposals disclosed on April 5 included giving the EC authority to cancel candidature on grounds of gross irregularities, making political parties' registration mandatory, restriction on retired military or civil servant, loan defaulters, utility service bill defaulters and NGO officials to contest parliamentary election.

The draft also proposed restriction on a person to contest election from more than three constituencies at a time. The EC also proposed making public the wealth statements of the candidates.

A renowned editor said the EC should draft a proposal to prevent political parties from contesting the parliamentary election unless they are registered and involved with the political process for a certain period.

A few journalists opposed the criteria for wholesale disqualification of candidates to contest the parliamentary election, arguing that these restrictions will prevent many honest people from contesting the next polls.

According to the draft proposals, government and non-government officials cannot contest the parliamentary election within three years of their retirement.

The journalists said a civil bureaucrat has the scope to misuse his office during the service to achieve political goals, but a schoolteacher does not have such scope.

Regarding civil bureaucrats, the CEC said former cabinet secretary MA Halim and former secretary Khandakar Shahidul Islam started election campaigns even before their retirement and they got encouragement.

Referring to Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury, the CEC said a person who was campaigning for election was even made an election commissioner.

These cannot be allowed, he said.

The CEC also said the EC asked the local government ministry to formulate laws to prevent all sorts of graffiti during election.

Referring to neighbouring India, a few editors proposed holding staggered election--several polling days.

Fayez Ahmed, senior journalist, ABM Musa columnist, Golam Sarwar, editor of daily Jugantor, Abed Khan, editor of daily Samokal, Ataus Samad, adviser-editor of daily Amar Desh, Nurul Kabir, editor of daily New Age, Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, editor and managing editor of news agency BSS, Amanullah Kabir, editor of daily Amar Desh, Abdul Quaiyum, joint editor of daily Prothom Alo, and Farid Hossain, bureau chief of AP, among others, were present at the discussion.

Earlier on April 4, the CEC at a meeting with the law adviser asked the government to lift the ongoing restriction on indoor politics allowing the EC to hold talks with the political parties to finalise the electoral reform proposals. The EC held talks with eminent persons on April 26.