Bangladesh EC to be reformed with demand of main party

Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) will be reformed in line with demands of former main opposition Awami League led 14-party combine, according to local media reports on Friday.

This was conveyed by two advisors of the caretaker government to AL chief Sheikh Hasina late Thursday night as the combine has threatened to stage a fresh agitation if demands are not met.

Bangladesh President Prof. Iajuddain Ahmed, who is also the chief advisor of the caretaker administration had sent Advisors Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal to Hasina giving her message saying the EC is being reformed.

The combine has been demanding reform of EC as the chief of the commission Justice MA Aziz made him controversial at the time of preparing the country's voters list. The combine has been demanding removal of Aziz and three of his deputies as what AL said they are loyalists to former ruling party BNP-led four-party alliance.

"We have been told from the council of advisors that effective steps have been taken for reconstitution of EC," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told journalists last night.

All the 10 advisors at a meeting on Thursday expressed a common sentiment the EC should be reformed to remove all negative images that overshadowed its credibility.

The advisors council met again last night to find out ways to make the EC effective as they found it difficult to reconstitute the EC because of some constitutional barriers.

The 14-party alliance on Thursday reminded the president and caretaker government chief of the deadline it gave to prove his neutrality and threatened to go for all-out movement if their demands are not met by Friday.

A three-member delegation of the combine met Iajuddain urging him to carry out the 11-point demands, including the reform of the EC.

President Iajuddin Ahmed on Sunday took office of the chief of caretaker government as AL and BNP failed to search a compromise candidate for the post. On Tuesday, president made the 10 advisors for holding a clean elections in January next year.

After president took the post, the AL issued a deadline till Nov. 3 to watch the activities of Iajuddin whether he is working neutrally and after Nov. 3 they will announce fresh agitation program.

Before Iajuddin took the office of caretaker government chief, the AL and BNP and Jamaat, a key partner of BNP-led four-party alliance fought each other which left at least 30 people dead and thousands wounded in three days.

Source: Xinhua