Editors of leading newspapers proposed various reforms to the Election Reform Commission, with Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumder affirming that they are "on the right track."
The meeting was held at the Election Commission building on Thursday.
“The suggestions emphasized the areas we were already considering. It seems we are on the right path. They praised our efforts and suggested making the report public,” he said.
In response to a question, he added: “We are not an investigative agency. We are trying to gather information and seeking assistance from everyone. We are also reviewing the past three elections. Based on these insights, we will propose reforms.”
He further mentioned that the Election Reform Commission would recommend policies acceptable at both national and international levels.
Golam Rahman, editor of Ajker Patrika, told reporters that the meeting emphasized the importance of media, ensuring their access during elections.
He added: “The role of media in every election, be it local or national, and ensuring their access was highlighted. For expatriate voters, delays in the process must be addressed, and their voting rights need clear guidelines. If laws require amendments, they should be revised.”
Rahman also stressed the need for accountability to ensure inclusive elections. “Accountability is essential, especially for conducting free, fair, and independent elections under the Election Commission. Elections under partisan governments in the past have often been influenced, and steps must be taken to prevent such interference.”
Sohrab Hassan, joint editor of Prothom Alo and a poet, said that representatives should belong to the areas they represent.
“It’s unfair for someone based in Dhaka to represent Khagrachhari or Dinajpur, depriving local voters. Election campaigning should be state-funded to curb the influence of money. Two alternative proposals were made regarding reserved seats for women. Elections must be inclusive, ensuring people from all classes, professions, religions, castes, ethnicities, and groups can freely choose their preferred candidates,” he said.
Senior journalist Masud Kamal shared his suggestions with the commission, emphasizing caretaker government supervision.
He said: “I suggested considering whether local government elections should also be held under caretaker administrations. The commission responded that it’s under consideration. I also proposed that the voter list preparation process could save time and resources by using the national ID card as the voter card.”
