Chief of the Electoral Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majudar on Friday said the perpetrators of crimes committed in the last three general elections should be punished. “Those who committed electoral crimes in the last three elections should be punished. The Election Commission (EC) committed the biggest crimes," he said. Dr Majumdar made this comment while addressing a shadow-parliament (debate) on the 'role of the EC, candidates and citizens for a fair election' arranged the Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) here in the city. He said the government is the most important partner in the elections after the EC. If the government doesn’t help, it won’t be possible even for a neutral Election Commission to conduct a fair election, he added. About the newly constituted election commission headed by AMM Nasir Uddin, the reform commission chief said a tree is known by its fruits. "But, there is no big challenge for this EC. Because, unlike last time, there is no pressure from the ruling political party," he said. Read: Badiul Alam Majumdar seeks political consensus on EVM use   Dr Majumdar said many media didn’t provide true information about the last three national elections. "The role of the media in elections is important. But in the last three elections, some media deliberately did not tell the truth, while some others were even forced not to tell the truth," he said. The reform commission chief said ensuring the participation of women voters and expatriate voters could be a challenge for the Election Commission. Read more: Our job is to make recommendations for electoral reform, not to implement: Badiul Alam Citing that the election system reform is important, Dr Majumdar said but time must be given for reform (in the electoral system).

Head of the Electoral Reform Commission Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar on Tuesday said they would make reform proposals with honesty and sincerity so that a nice democratic system could be introduced in the country.  "We'll do this job (making electoral reform report) work with honesty, integrity and sincerity so that we could introduce a beautiful democratic system," he said. The chief of the electoral reform commission made this remark while exchanging views with students at East West University auditorium in the city as part of a series of talks with different stakeholders. Students from other universities also participated in the view exchange. Dr Majumdar said students have opened a door to create a new Bangladesh and they won't let the sacrifices of the students go in vain.    "I, on behalf of our colleagues, am making this promise that we won't let their sacrifices go in vain," he added.  During the view exchange, students placed a number of recommendations, including introduction of a bicameral parliament, stopping the use of muscle power, ensuring the voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis and postal balloting.    Dr Yunus condemns Ctg lawyer's murder Umama Fatema, a female student who was in the frontline of anti-discrimination student movement, said election is one of the most important factors to ensure a strong democratic system and so, the reform proposals should be pro-people ones. "We hope you take such decisions (proposals) so that transparency and accountability would be ensured through the next election and good governance would be established in Bangladesh," said another female student. The Electoral Reform Commission will submit its reform report to the chief adviser of the interim government by December 31 next.