National Citizen Party chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari on Sunday said that the fate of the current Election Commission would be determined by the upcoming report of the National Consensus Commission on electoral reforms as the EC was formed under a controversial law enacted聽 by a deposed autocratic regime.
The existing EC was constituted under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022, a law that was widely criticised by opposition parties and other stakeholders as undemocratic, he said.
The Election Commission must be reformed according to the forthcoming NCC recommendations, Nasiruddin told reporters following a meeting with CEC AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital Dhaka.
鈥楾he future composition of the EC should be determined by the forthcoming report of the consensus commission, as the focus should聽 be on institutional reforms rather than on individual commissioners,鈥� he said.
The NCP leader also expressed reservations about the EC鈥檚 activities and statements regarding the upcoming elections, even before the announcement of the roadmap by chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Nasiruddin Patwari urged the EC to exercise caution while talking about elections before the announcement of a clear roadmap by the government.
During the meeting with the CEC, a five-member NCP delegation discussed the Election Commission Formation Act, political party registration rules, and various reform issues.
Regarding the registration of the NCP, Nasiruddin said they still have a lot of work to do as a newly formed party.
Works are still underway to establish party offices at various locations, he said.
He noted that they do not want any fascist accomplices to find places in their party and for that reason they intend to have the registration process completed only after a thorough verification.
The NCP coordinator said that on April 17 their party wrote to the EC, requesting an extension of the registration deadline, adding that the CEC assured that the matter would be considered.
Nasiruddin said that during the meeting with the CEC they called for bringing to justice those responsible for election rigging over the past 15 years.
He disclosed that their party has outlined a series of proposals aimed at ensuring a greater transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Among the key recommendations聽 the NCP has proposed are mandatory in-person submission of nomination papers by candidates, the issuance of election certification within 48 hours and a thorough verification of candidates鈥� affidavits to confirm their authenticity.
The party also called for amendments to the electoral code of conduct and the rules on expenditure in order to curb electoral violence, and for disqualifying loan defaulters from contesting elections.
The NCP proposed that any candidate found to have submitted false information in their affidavit should have their candidacy cancelled 鈥� even if already elected 鈥� and should be barred from holding a parliamentary seat.
Other proposals included safeguarding voting rights for expatriates, extending the deadline for political party registration, and enforcing internal democracy within political parties.
