Make people alert to polls fraud: Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has stressed the importance of raising awareness among citizens to prevent ballot box snatching.

"People need to be made election focused. Citizens must be made aware that no one can snatch the ballot box. We must bring discipline, and we, taking the people together, must hold safe elections," he told the consensus commission meeting held last night.

"Bangladesh that we got after such a mass uprising should not remain the same Bangladesh," said Yunus, also the commission chief.

The commission members informed him about the latest progress in the talks with political parties, according to a statement of chief adviser's press wing.

The statement said discussion was held on the formation of an independent commission to investigate the role of those involved in irregularities in past elections.

Prof Ali Riaz, the commission's vice-president, said all political parties already reached a "consensus" in this regard.

The chief adviser, who presided over the meeting at Jamuna, instructed the commission to work on increasing public awareness in reform process and electoral matters by involving not only political parties but also civil society and grassroots organisations.

The first round of talks between the commission and political parties ended on May 19. The second round is expected early next month.

At the meeting, consensus commission member Ayub Mia proposed forming a body for implementing the recommendations of Public Administration Reform Commission.

He added that apart from the Public Administration Commission's recommendations, two other commissions are working on NBR reforms, leading to a lack of coordination.

Judicial Reform Commission representative Justice Emdadul Haque called upon the chief adviser to ensure that the commission formed based on the consensus of political parties to appoint Supreme Court judges can work transparently.

Anti-Corruption Reform Commission representative Iftekharuzzaman urged for a roadmap to implement the proposals put forth by the reform commissions on media, labour, local government, women, and health.

Badiul Alam Majumder, who leads the Electoral System Reform Commission, called for issuing the draft proposal prepared for the 2008 local government elections as an ordinance.

Police Reform Commission representative Safar Raj Hossain was also present at the meeting.