Dhaka, Jul 31 – The Election Commission on Monday started its dialogue with civil society members to take their opinions over the arrangements to hold the 11th national election.The dialogue began around 11 am with the participation of some 30 civil society members at the conference room of Nirbachon Bhaban in the city with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
At the dialogue, the Commission will seek opinions from the stakeholders over different issues, including electoral law reform and delimitation of constituencies, updating voter list, fixation of polling stations and awarding registration to new political parties.
The EC earlier invited 59 civil society members to join the dialogue.
The participants include former caretaker government advisers Rasheda K Chowdhury and M Hafizuddin Khan, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Mohammed Farasuddin, CPD distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder, Prof Dilara Chowdhury, local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, former diplomat Md Golam Hossain, former foreign secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed, former secretaries AHM Kashem and Abdul Latif Mandal, Prof Syed Anwar Hussain, Prof MM Akash, Prof Salimullah Khan, Prof Mahbuba Nasreen, Prof Tareque Shamsur Rahman, Nijera Kori executive director Khushi Kabir, general secretary of Bangladesh Engineers Peoples Forum Sanjeeb Drong, president of Move Foundation Saiful Haque, Brotee CEO Sharmin Murshid, Janipop chairman Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, media personalities Mizanur Rahman Khan (Prothom Alo) and BLIA director Waliur Rahman.
As part of the roadmap, the EC will also sit in talks with 40 registered political parties, media people, election observers, women leaders and election experts. – UNB
