DHAKA: The senior journalists have suggested the Election Commission (EC) for ensuring atmosphere of participatory polls so that all the political parties take part in the next general elections.
The journalists made the suggestion at the talks of the EC held at the conference room of the EC Secretariat Building at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city on Wednesday (August 16). The commission sat with the journalists to discuss the next parliamentary elections.
The two-day dialogue with senior journalists of print, electronic and online media began at about 10:30 am with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.
In the first day, the commission sat with newspaper editors, journalist leaders and columnists. In the second day, it will sit with electronic and online media persons on Thursday (August 17). The EC invited 34 electronic and online media persons on the second day.
After the talks of first day, editor of Bangladesh Pratidin Nayeem Nizam told journalists that they asked the EC to play vital role for the participatory polls. “Our Election Commission is stronger than neighboring India from legal aspect. If the commission plays its constitutional power, it will be able to hold the participatory polls,” he said.
Among the participants, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Kaler Kantho executive Mostafa Kamal, Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Amader Orthoneeti editor Nayeemul Islam Khan, Jugantor acting editor Saiful Alam, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutta, Daily Manobkantha acting editor Anis Alamgir, Jatiya Press Club president Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman and its general secretary Farida Yasmin, President of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and its general secretary Omar Faruk, General secretary of another faction of BFUJ Mohammad Abdullah, journalists Mahfuzullah, Anisul Hoque, Kazi Siraj and Amanullah Kabir, columnists Sohrab Hasan, Mahbub Kamal and Bibhurangan Sarkar, Ittefaq managing editor Ashish Saikat, Jaijaidin Editor Kazi Rokunuddin Ahmad and Shaptahik editor Golam Mortuza.
Four election commissioners Mahbub Talukdar, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, and EC acting secretary Helaluddin Ahmed were present at the dialogue.
As part of the E’s roadmap on the issue of the next general election, the commission will also sit in talks with political parties, election observers, NGOs, women leaders, election experts.
The dialogue with political parties will start in the end of the current month. The commission will sit with six political parties, two parties each day, before the Eid-ul-Azha.
Earlier EC started dialogue through holding talks with civil society members on July 31. The civil society members also suggested for inclusive polls.
BDST: 1650 HRS, AUG 16, 2017
EHJ
