Leaders of some political parties on Saturday proposed that the interim government should complete the ongoing reform work on the electoral system quickly before holding the next parliamentary elections.
Some leaders urged the chief adviser to the interim government to ban Awami League for killing people during the student-led mass uprising.
They came up with the call during talks with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at State Guesthouse Jamuna, the official residence of the chief adviser.
The chief adviser invited some nine parties to state their opinions on the reform work.
Emerging from the meeting, Gonoforum leaders said that they called for quick completion of reform works on the electoral system as well as the Election Commission before holding the national elections.
“We want the election very soon. But we didn't give any specific date,” Mostafa Mohsin Montu, chairman of the coordinating team of Gonoforum, told reporters after a nine-member Gonoforum delegation joined talks.
“Before the election, we act as Ram and we become Ravan after the election,” he added.
The delegation, led by party's emeritus President Dr Kamal Hossain, also discussed issues relating to controlling price hikes of essential commodities and restoration of law and order.
Mostafa told reporters that an independent election commission needs to be formed to ensure fair elections.
“For this, a search committee or whatever necessary should be carried out for appointing competent people to the election commission,” he said, adding that otherwise, the situation will be the same as before if the election is held without completing reform work.
Asked if an election roadmap was discussed, Mostafa said, “We have not mentioned any date. We want the government to hold elections at the earliest, upon completing the reforms.”
Regarding any proposals from their end to amend the constitution, he said, “I will discuss it and within two days, give it in written form.”
The chief adviser held talks with leaders of at least 15 political parties as part of an ongoing dialogue.
The main aim of the dialogue is to inform the political parties about the progress of the reform work how it can be advanced and to seek their opinions and suggestions.
The parties included Gonoforum, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Jatiya Mukti Council, Labour Party and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Andaleeve), according to CA's Press Wing.
This is the second round of dialogues in the current phase, which started on 5 October with the participation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, CPB, and some other major parties.
Emerging from the meeting, Liberal Democratic Party chairman Col (Rtd) Oli Ahmed urged the government to ban Awami League for killing people during the students-people mass upsurge.
“They (AL) illegally used their police force against the people. They killed and injured many boys and girls. They plunged the country into corruption,” he said.
The LDP chief said Jamaat was banned after the 1971 Liberation War.
“What was the reason for the ban? Awami League will have to be banned for the same reason as they fought a war against 18 crore people in the country,” he said.
The LDP chief also urged the government to bring the officials, who were staunch supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to book.
Emerging from the meeting, BJP chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho told reporters that they urged the government to keep the AL at bay from politics and election due to its involvement with killing during the anti-discrimination student movement.
He also raised a question as to why action would not be taken against the AL for killing.
When asked about their proposals, he said, “They proposed that the interim government should form a liaison committee to reform the Election Commission.”
“We also propose whether the last three general elections, held during the Awami League regime, can be declared illegal or not,” he said.
