Bikalpa Dhara favours CG system while JP opposes

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) suggested holding general elections under the caretaker government while Jatiya Party has opposed the caretaker system.
The parties gave their opinion at a dialogue with the Election Commission at the commission's secretariat at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city yesterday as part of a series of dialogues with different political parties.
However, both the parties suggested not using electronic voting machines (EVM) in the general elections rather piloting its effectiveness and acceptance in smaller scale elections.
The dialogue started at 10:30am with Bikalpa Dhara while Jatiya Party attended the dialogue at 3:00pm.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad led a nine-member delegation while BDB President Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury led an eight-member delegation.
Ershad said there is no chance of holding elections under the caretaker government as the High Court has declared it illegal.
BDB said the political governments of Bangladesh do not have the ability to conduct elections in a free and fair manner so there is still the need of the caretaker system.
Dr Badruddoza said the EC cannot perform its duty independently since its “hands are tied.”
He also said the election commission always remain under pressure from the big two parties.
Terming EVM a better method, the party said there is a lack of security in the system.
The delegation suggested using EVMs in the upcoming Dhaka City Corporation elections and by-elections for piloting.
Jatiya Party also suggested reforms in the election system and party based elections rather than present candidate based elections in different constituencies.
Ershad said people will vote for parties not candidates and the parties will get seats in the parliament according to the percentage of votes they get.
Jatiya Party urged to cancel duties of deputy commissioners as returning officers replacing the officials of deputy secretary rank.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, Election Commissioners M Sakhawat Hussain and Muhammed Sohul Hussain were present at the dialogue.
The EC on June 7 launched dialogues with the political parties.