Jasad asks EC not to indulge any act against diplomatic norms

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) has suggested the Election Commission (EC) that it should not indulge any act against the country's diplomatic norms.

It gave the suggestion as a 16-member delegation led by its president Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, joined a dialogue with the EC at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon here.

The party alleged that some foreign diplomats made acts against diplomatic norms and they intervened in an unsolicited way.

Jasad general secretary Shirin Akhter, MP, placed the written statement to the EC.

About the allegation, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said foreign diplomats didn't give any suggestion while calling on the EC and they called on as per previous tradition.

Apart from the CEC, four election commissioners, EC secretary and other officials joined the dialogue as part of the commission's ongoing talks with political parties.

Shirin said Jasad believes that there is no alternative to hold the national and local government polls in due time in line with the Constitution.

EC's duty is to complete all preparations to hold elections in due time, she mentioned.

Jasad general secretary said it is any registered political party's own decision whether it would join polls or boycott it.

She suggested EC should not involve itself with any political debate or make any comment or opinion.

EC is not an arbitrator agency for resolving any political dispute, she added.

In the written statement, Jasad welcomed EC's inclusion of electronic voting machine (EVM) in electoral process as a positive initiative.

The party urged the EC to make EVM system as technically flawless and reliable side by side with taking up preparations to hold polls in ballot system too.

It demanded strictly banning use of religion in elections.

 The CEC said they urged all parties to join polls.

"We clearly said we cannot force any party to join polls and it is not our duty. Our responsibility is to call upon all for holding a fair election," he said.

Later, a 12-member delegation of Islamic Front Bangladesh led by its acting chairman Advocate M Abu Naser Talukder joined dialogue with EC.

They placed a nine-point proposal to the EC.

Earlier, a 12-member delegation of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon led by its chief Mawlana Hafez Ataullah Ibne Hafezi joined dialogue with EC.

They placed 40 written proposals to the EC.

Bangladesh Muslim League will join dialogue between 10.30am to 11.30am tomorrow, Workers Party between 12noon to 1pm, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad) from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 4pm to 5pm, reports BSS.