The two political leaders placed some reform proposals at a roundtable styled "Electoral Thoughts of New Generation" organised by National Youth Forum of Bangladesh at the Jatiya Press Club.

Mahi B Chowdhury resigned as the organising secretary of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Sayeed Khokan resigned from Awami League (AL) recently.

"The ballot papers should be designed without the electoral symbols. Only the candidate's name, the party's name and the candidate's photo should be there on the ballot paper," said Mahi, son of LDP President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

"People cannot judge the candidates when they notice the AL symbol 'boat' or the BNP symbol 'sheaf of paddy' on the ballot paper," he explained.

Mahi said the Election Commission and the caretaker government should introduce rules to ban political programmes on workdays.

"The new generation should come forward to establish their rights as around 65 percent voters are now under the age of 35," he said.

Sayeed Khokan, son of the late Dhaka City Corporation mayor Mohammad Hanif, said, "A lot of people cast their votes based on their emotional attachment to a party symbol. The Election Commission should introduce a rule for not using electoral symbols on the ballot paper because the nation needs honest and meritorious leaders."

He said the people have been struggling to establish their voting right since 1971 but a proper election process is yet to be ensured.

National Youth Forum President Dr GM Rabbani Nayan presided over the roundtable. Dhaka University professor Sabbir Ahmed and Youth Forum Executive Director Tanzina Nawsheen also spoke at the event.