Dhaka: BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today urged the Election Commission (EC) to make the election process voter-friendly and simple to ensure maximum participation of the voters in the coming election. “We want majority of voters to cast their votes. We should not make the election procedure difficult. We have urged the EC to simplify the process,” he told journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the EC office in Agargaon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Salahuddin Ahmed urged the EC to reconsider its decision on restricting symbol, photo, or party name on the voter slip. He emphasized that having an electoral symbol, party name, or photo of the candidate on the voter slip may make it easier for voters to cast their votes in favor of their preferred candidate.
Salahuddin noted that postal ballots will be used mostly within the country. He proposed that postal ballots should only contain the symbols or names of the candidates of the respective constituency, rather than being common with the symbols of all parties. This approach should resemble the common ballots used in elections, he said.
In the meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, Salahuddin mentioned that his party expressed concerns on some issues, and the CEC has assured him of considering these issues with utmost importance. BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Ismail Jabullah, former acting EC secretary Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal were present at the meeting.