DHAKA, Jan 08, 2025 (BSS) - Electoral Reform Commission Chairman Professor Tofail Ahmed has said the commission would make every effort to submit its report to the government by February 24.

“The reform commission is working accordingly . . . We expect to study and evaluate all the opinions by January 16 and receive the survey report by January 31,” he said this evening.

He categorically said, ”Accordingly, if we count 90 days as per the gazette starting from  November 24, 2024, the commission’s report is scheduled to be submitted by February 24, 2025 unless there is a major disruption.”

“Going to the polls without making minimum reforms after submitting the reform report is like putting the cart before the horse,” the commission chairman mentioned.

Although the official gazette for the formation of the commission was published on November 18, 2024, he said the commission started its full work from December 5, 2024 after completing the recruitment of new manpower and setting up an office.

Earlier, the commission had held an introductory meeting on November 19, 2024 and a second meeting on November 24, 2024, the release said.

The commission is receiving opinions from people at all levels, including active political parties, at divisions, districts, upazilas and unions on various issues of local government.

It is conducting direct opinions-exchange, online opinion collection, and a nationwide survey through the National Bureau of Statistics, the release stated.

The opinions received by the reform commission so far include: the problems of salaries and allowances of employees at different levels, the balance of power between members and chairmen, various types of irregularities and corruption at different levels, he said.

Of the recommendations, many opinions have been received on determining the academic qualifications of members, councilors, chairmen-mayors, not using party symbols in the polls, abolishing the interference of members of parliament (MPs) in local polls, opinions in favor of and against the parliamentary system,  and the presidential form of government system, enacting law with a unified local government, simplifying the procedure for holding elections on the same schedule, stopping money games and polls-time nomination trading, holding local polls before the national elections or holding local and national elections simultaneously.

Prof Tofail said the Electoral Reform Commission does not want to make any decision or observation on the timing of national and local elections.

“The government and the Election Commission will take decision about the schedule of the national and local elections, it is their jurisdiction.

 They may seek opinions from political society and civil society on this issue,” the reform commission chairman mentioned clarifying some media report about it.

The commission will report on the issues related to the reform of the local government election system and process, where applicable, the release added.