The government will form a search committee very soon to establish a new Election Commission, according to the chief adviser’s office (CAO).
“The Election Commission will be formed as per the recommendations of the search committee. But it must be formed based on opinions from political parties,” chief adviser’s Special Assistant Mahfuz Alam told a press conference today (19 October) at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
The new commission will then start its various activities, including creating a voters’ list, making various updates etc, he added.
The announcement comes after Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus held dialogues with a number of political parties today, including Gonoforum, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Jatiya Mukti Council, Labour Party and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Andaleeve).
During that meeting, the political parties had demanded quick reforms of the Election Commission before holding the national elections.
Alleging vote rigging in the three previous elections held in 2014, 2018 and 2024, the political parties demanded cancellation of the parliaments that were formed. They also called for bringing those involved to book.
In response, the government said they would try to see how it would be possible to look into the matter legally, according to the chief adviser’s press wing.
Earlier today, the parties also called for banning Awami League as a political party alleging that its members were responsible for the genocide during the recent July-August protests.
The government responded saying various political parties have already mounted pressure and demands in this regard. For which, discussions with political parties have been ongoing and a decision will be reached through a consensus.
