Alliance led by Ershad places eight demands in talks with Election Commission

A political alliance led by former president HM Ershad has submitted its eight-point demand to the Election Commission that includes the announcement of the election schedule on the due date.

A Sammilita Jatiya Jote team of 15 led by Jatiya Party Chairman Ershad met EC officials for an hour-long meeting that started at 11.15am on Wednesday.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda and other election commissioners were present at the meeting.

“The meeting has been successful and they have agreed with us on most of the demands. We want the election schedule to be announced on Nov 8,” Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader told reporters following the meeting.

“As far as I know, there won’t be any more dialogue. It’s illogical to defer the election date with an excuse of dialogue,” said Howlader.

The alliance recommended making the nomination forms easier. Other recommendations include freeing the election from the influence of black money, effective measures in stopping the use of firearms in the election and efforts to prevent violence during the election campaign.

The alliance also demanded restrictions on motorcycles or cars and deployment of the army as a striking force. But it opposed the idea of providing the army with magisterial authority, Howlader had earlier said following their meeting with Hasina on Monday.

“The people still have hesitation and confusion over the use of EVMs in the election. The voters are not used to it although it is a modern voting system. It needs more scrutiny before being used. And it needs time to earn the voters’ trust,” Howlader said.

“The EC has to work independently and ensure a fair, neutral and constitutional election. It has agreed on most of our issues.”