Adviser to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and Shipping Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain commented that the EC (Election Commission) wants the responsibility of the ministries during the election period.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the seminar titled 'How to reform the Election Commission' organized by Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at Cirdap Auditorium in the capital on Saturday (October 12).

Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain said that the report given by the EC should be final in the case of those appointed by the Election Commission. It must work to ensure accountability. The government should not interfere in this matter. The EC should be given the power to inform the ministries during the elections.

The secretary of SUJAN and the head of Electoral System Reform Commission Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder said that the election is a long-term process. It is not a one day thing. Here the violence is free from campaigning to counting of votes. The selection process should be fair and acceptable. The whole process must be correct. An election that does not implement the democratic system is a violation of the Constitution. A fair election is not possible without the support of the government, administration and law enforcement. Election under a neutral government is important. If the political party does not perform its duties properly, the Election Commission will not be able to hold fair elections. Media, civil society and other stakeholders have to play their proper role.

He also said that political consensus and change in political culture is necessary for fair and impartial elections. The Electoral Reform Commission will perform its duties with impartiality, integrity, dedication and professionalism. The Electoral Reform Commission does not have jurisdiction to appoint the Election Commission. This decision will be taken by the interim government.

Adviser to BNP Chairperson Moazzem Hossain Alal said, our problem is in many places. The current constitution states that local government in article 59, local governance in article 60. The same thing is said in two consecutive clauses. These things have been accumulating garbage for years. I think the solution is more important here than blaming each other. That's why we say something new needs to be added everywhere. Those who will be candidates for the election will stand on the same stage with the Election Commission and talk about their goals. Then there will be no hidden issue. Another is the rule of law, it should be the rule of justice. It is BNP's proposal that one cannot become prime minister twice in a row. No one can be president twice is also BNP's proposal.

He also said that another thing should be added to these things of transfer, assignment of responsibility. No writ shall be admissible in any High Court or Court during the election without taking the opinion of the Election Commission. If the Election Commission is given this power, they will be bound to be fair. If the accountability of the Election Commission is determined more, the effectiveness will be more.

Jonaid Saki, chief coordinator of Gana Sanghati Andolon said that how the commissions will work has not yet been specified. A peaceful transfer of power has not been paved in Bangladesh. There is no interest in making the elections fair within the political parties. They want absolute power. At least 3 to 5 elections should be held under the Interim Government. The Election Commission should be created as an independent constitutional institution. There should be provision for no vote. The Representation of the People Ordinance needs to be amended. Besides, the registration of political parties needs to be simplified.

Gano Adhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Noor said that the current constitution should be abolished. Besides, a new constitution should be drafted. Political parties have to give budgets during elections.

Criticizing the arrest of former planning minister Abdul Mannan, he said, "You have arrested a decent person like Mannan, but you have not been able to arrest Obaidul Quader." Saber Hossain Chowdhury arrested and released under foreign pressure why? This principle should be removed.

Jamaat-e-Islami central working council member and secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Shafiqul Islam Masood said that the interim government should bring the information of the people of this country who have sold thousands of crores of takas to the law.

Jatiya Party presidium member Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari said, along with other reforms, the main responsibility of this government is to reform the election system. The election schedule should be discussed with the main political parties. The vote that will be held under this government will undoubtedly be a fair vote. But the elections that will be held after that should be arranged so that they are fair.

Ariful Adib, a member of the civic committee as a representative of the students, said, "We think that the next election is very important. The powers that be are polarizing around this election. We have seen revolution after revolution demanding justice for those involved in this massacre. They are making demands on how to arrest them. But as soon as a month and a half goes by, their speeches are focused on the election. As a result, the desire and demand for later power has become more important to them than justice. The main demand of the coup was that there would be no fascist system in the country. In this fascist system, whether the BNP will be. He also said that everyone should work according to a national unity so that no one can become a fascist in the future or anyone else comes to power in the future, they will transform into fascist monsters.