Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said the Election Commission (EC) will be formed soon while an election roadmap will be announced after competing reforms in electoral system.
"Once the electoral reforms are decided, you will get the election roadmap very soon," he said while addressing the nation this evening on the completion of 100 days of the interim government.
The address was broadcast on Bangladesh Television and BTV World.
Noting that there is a question in everyone's mind that when the elections will be held, Prof Yunus said the government has started taking necessary steps to hold the elections.
"The Election Commission will be formed in a few days. Since then, all the responsibility of arranging the polls will fall on them (EC)," he said.
The chef adviser said the EC can take necessary tasks, including updating the voter list, which are directly related to a free polls.
Prof Yunus said apart from dealing with the daily affairs of the state, the government has to think about the reconstruction of the future Bangladesh.
"You all know that our most important task is to hand over the power to an elected government by holding a free and fair election. We continue our regular communication with political parties and are taking their opinions on various issues," he said.
Mentioning that their opinions are being reflected to a large extent in the decision-making of the government, the chief adviser said each of their opinions is being actively taken into account in the ongoing reform process.
"We hope that the reform commissions will be able to submit their recommendations to the government within stipulated timeframe - December-January. We will continue to discuss their proposals with political parties. We will finalise the reform proposals on the basis of consensus of all," he said.
For the first time, he said, the government is working so that Bangladeshi expatriates can exercise their voting rights through postal ballots.
"But, we do not think that our duty to arrange an election will end once the Election Commission is formed. Reform in the state system is one of the pledges of our government. You gave us this mandate," he said.
Prof Yunus said the six reform commissions formed earlier have already progressed much with their activities and the updates of their works were seen in different media.
Noting that several reform commissions have formed digital platforms, he requested the people to express their opinions enthusiastically on the platforms.
Mentioning that the people are the owner of the country, the chief adviser said the recommendations of the Election Reform Commission are very important in conducting elections.
"Go to their platform. Express your opinion. Tell what you want and how do you want," he added.
"Feel free to give your views about the election. Express all's thoughts. My request - tell about reforms too. Don't skip the reforms," he said.
Prof Yunus further said: "Talk about elections along with reforms in elections and other areas. Reforms are the long-term life force of a nation. Reforms will give the nation, especially our youth, the opportunity to create a new world. Do not deprive the nation."
The Electoral Act should be amended on the basis of the recommendations of the Constitution Reform Commission, he said, adding that in parallel, the process of updating the voter list will continue.
"I am not sure how much time we will get to implement the reform proposals. But I promise you, we will arrange your desired elections after completing some necessary reforms if you give us the opportunity. Until then, I request you to be patient. We would like to create an electoral system that will be followed for ages," the Chief Adviser said.
As a result, the country will be saved from political crisis, he said, seeking the necessary time for this.
He said the interim government was created to bring politics into the policy framework, and out of an intense desire to create a new environment for politics. "Do not deprive the nation of fulfilling this desire," he urged all.
Prof Yunus said the election train (journey) has started and it will not stop.
"But we have a lot of work to do on this journey. When this train will reach the last station will depend on how soon we can set up the rail tracts for it and that will be through the consensus of the political parties," he said.
In the meantime, talks will continue on the proposals of other reform commissions and additional time may be needed to build consensus on more important reforms beyond elections, the Chief Adviser said.
He said the government will continue to ask the people, especially the political parties, what reforms they want before the elections.
Some reforms may take place during the election period and the polls may also be delayed by several months for reforms, Prof Yunus said.
Noting that the interim government will leave power one day, he requested all regardless of party, gender and religion, and the young and the old, the students, the businessmen, the workers and the farmers to remain firm about the historical opportunity that has been created for the nation.
"I hope you will accept my request," Prof Yunus added.
