Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), and the Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) suggested a proportional representation electoral system and the reinstatement of the caretaker government to oversee the national elections.
Jamaat and the 10-party alliance Jatiyotabadi Somomona Jote made separate proposals to the electoral reform commission that aimed to restrict the president’s and prime minister’s terms to two terms each.
Additionally, Jamaat demanded the repeal of the law governing political party registration. In 2018, Jamaat lost its registration as a political party with the EC due to a court order.
The GOP and Khelafat Majlis want a clause that would bar the Awami League and its supporters from running for office. The GOP and Somomona Jote sought bicameral legislation.
“Political parties are making the proposals as we sought them from them,” the electoral reform commission’s chair, Badiul Alam Majumdar, told The Daily Star yesterday.
On October 3, the interim government established the electoral reform commission and requested its report within ninety days.
Jamaat-e-Islami submitted a 22-point electoral reform proposal yesterday, which includes the incorporation of the caretaker government system into the constitution.
The party suggested six election commissioners instead of the current four. The party supports nonpartisan local elections, CCTV in every polling place, and the selection of candidates by grassroots leaders.
During the election, the party suggested granting the military magistracy authority. It implied that the president should decide when to send out the troops.
EC officials should take precedence when selecting returning and assistant returning officers.
In the polls, the party opposes the use of electronic voting machines.
In addition, Jamaat suggested that the High Court bench handle electoral petitions and resolve all cases in a year.
Additionally, they demanded the reinstatement of the clause in the Representation of the People Order, 1972, which gave the EC the power to postpone elections at any time after announcing the schedule.
An amendment from July 2023 limits the EC’s ability to postpone elections to the day of the polls.
Additionally, Jamaat suggested giving the EC direct authority to deal with election officials’ wrongdoing, corruption, and irregularities.
According to CPB President Ruhin Hossain Prince, they have suggested doing away with electronic voting machines and reintroducing the “no” vote system.
The party also advocated for direct elections to the seats designated for women and for the selection of candidates by grassroots leaders. Additionally, it prohibited religious use in elections.
Additionally, it supports the EC’s complete financial autonomy. The commission should cover the costs of the election campaign, print banners and posters, and plan events where all candidates can run campaigns.
Within 21 days of the election, the candidates must submit their financial statements to the EC and make public the accounts of their electoral campaign expenditures.
Jatiyotabadi Somomona Jote suggested a balance of power between the president, the prime minister, and the cabinet, according to alliance coordinator Fariduzzaman Farhad.
The alliance also announced that the Upper House will select experts from a variety of fields.
They also advocated for the reinstatement of the referendum system.
A party or coalition must receive at least 51% of the total votes cast in order to form the government.
The alliance also demanded the repeal of Article 70 of the constitution, which states that members of parliament can have their membership revoked for voting against their party.
GOP General Secretary Rashed Khan suggested having eight election commissioners for each of the eight divisions.
If it is demonstrated that the CEC or EC sided with one candidate or influenced the polls, the party has suggested a 10-year prison sentence or a fine of Tk 10 crore.
He suggested that parliament should have a four-year term.
The party suggested that Bangladeshis living abroad should be able to vote and run for office.
The Khelafat Majlis suggested creating a separate polling station for women and designating all election officials as women.
The party, like CPB, demanded that the EC have complete financial autonomy and that the commission cover election campaign costs.
