Dhaka //

Civil society members who came to the Reform Commission’s exchange of views have suggested holding local government elections before the national parliamentary elections.

Dr. Tofail Ahmed, a member of the Election Reform Commission, said this after an exchange of views at the Election Building in Agargaon, the capital, on Saturday.

He said that in the exchange of views we held, the opinion of civil society is that local elections should be held before the national elections. Because, holding local elections will increase the capacity of our commission. The test will be done. Besides, the support that will be needed at the local level for the national elections will be confirmed.

Dr. Tofail Ahmed said, my question is that there is one national election, and five local elections. Out of the five, three elections – union, municipality and upazila national elections are nationwide. And the city elections may be localized. The district council elections are actually not an election at all.

He said that if we go to the elections now before the reforms, then the reforms that are being talked about will be delayed. Because the way we think about local elections now is not a system. It is run by different institutions, different laws. There is no comprehensive system.

He said, the major task of this reform will be to develop a system. Now what will be the system, the system that exists has been made keeping in mind Ayub Khan’s thoughts.