EC to hold reform talks with parties

The Election Commission will hold dialogue with political parties seeking their views on proposed electoral reforms, and a draft law on appointment of election commissioners, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said yesterday.
“Reviewing the electoral laws, we have prepared reform proposals and drafted a law on appointment of election commissioners. We will sit with political parties as soon as possible to seek their opinion on those,” the CEC said at a press briefing after a two-day meeting of South Asian election commissions in Dhaka.
In reply to a question, he said the EC might begin the talks in two or three months.
“I think we should hold talks regularly with political parties and other organisations concerned about the electoral process,” Huda said.
Before the ninth parliamentary election in 2008, the EC held a series of talks with political parties and sought their opinion on proposed electoral reforms. Following the consultations with them, massive reforms were made.
About the draft law on appointment of election commissioners, Huda said no such law was made in the last 39 years although the constitution provides for it.
In the absence of such a law, there is no criteria and specific number regarding appointment of election commissioners, he mentioned.
The EC has drafted proposals specifying qualifications of people to be appointed election commissioner, Huda said. And it will finalise those in the light of talks with political parties.