Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday demanded the enactment of a law in line with the constitution to have a permanent solution to the problem over formation of the Election Commission (EC).

In a statement, he said, “It’s very unfortunate that there’s no law in the country to form the Election Commission, even after 50 years of independence.”

GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said there is a clear instruction in the constitution that a law must be formulated to constitute the Election Commission.

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“We want the Election Commission to be formed through a law in the light of the constitution which will help ensure the voting rights of people. It can also help have a permanent solution to the Election Commission formation issue,” he observed.

The Jatiya Party chief said the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners through forming a search committee after every five years which sparks various criticisms.

“People's voting rights are hampered if the commissioners are appointed from a partisan view. So, it has become urgent to enact an acceptable law through discussions with the political parties that have representation in Parliament and the relevant experts from the civil society,” he said.

GM Quader said there is also an obligation to enact a law for the formation of the Election Commission as directed by the constitution.

He hoped that it would be possible to constitute an honest and acceptable election commission through law for holding free, fair and credible elections in a festive manner.

The Jatiya Party chief also said an acceptable election commission can make people of the country interested in elections.

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“People will also be able to intensify their role in the elections for electing their representatives. Only then, people will begin to get the real taste of democracy,” he opined.