President hopeful about neutral, competent EC

President Abdul Hamid has expressed the hope that formation of a competent, neutral and acceptable Election Commission would be possible through discussions with the political parties.

"The tenure of the present EC will end soon and with an aim to form a new EC, I have already started talks with different political parties that they are placing their proposals in this regard," Hamid said while inaugurating the newly constructed "'EC Bhaban" at Agargaon in Dhaka yesterday.

Side by side with the EC, good intension and cooperation of political parties, candidates, their supporters and general people are essential for holding a free and fair election, he said.

EC's role in preparing voter lists with photos, using transparent ballot boxes and introducing smart national identity card deserves appreciation, he said, adding, as the EC has set up office at regional, district and upazila levels, its activities have been expanded and people are getting services from their respective areas.

If the election process gets hampered, democracy faces hurdle and aspirations of the people are dashed, he said, adding,  the democratic process that has been established in the country will have to be maintained unitedly for the sake of the country.

"The EC will have to be cooperated properly so that it can carry out its responsibilities properly and peacefully. According to the section 126 of the constitution, it is the duty and responsibility of the all executive bodies to extend cooperation to the EC in discharging its duties," he added.

The president said the main attraction of democracy is election but holding only election is not enough for practicing and flourishing democracy. Political and administrative transparency and accountability is needed to give democracy a firm footing, he said, adding, participation of political parties that conduct activities democratically in election is the main precondition to holding a real democratic election.

The president said the recent Narayanganj City Corporation election has drawn the attention of the countrymen as it has been completed peacefully with cooperation of all quarters.

Meanwhile, the president sought strict EC restrictions against the indiscriminate use of his and political leaders' pictures in posters and placards calling it a "bad culture" which should be denounced by the Jatiya Sangsad as well.

He said he did not feel good seeing "this new culture of using pictures" of top political leaders particularly demanding release of people whoever were arrested for whatever reason.