We know that reforming the EC has been the demand of the major political parties and forums of the civil society of the country for the last couple of years. Foreign donors have also emphasized on it. So much so, questions are being raised as to whether elections will actually take place and, if so, whether they will be free and fair. Thus reconstitution of the EC should be the first priority in Bangladesh among all governance related reforms.

Now the question is how we can do this? Political parties of the country have some recommendations on it. The recommendations, however, do not suggest long-range structural change of the Commission.

The first and foremost demand here was the removal of the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), which is already somewhat fulfilled. One may, easily raise the question that could the removal of the CEC be a permanent reconstructive measure of the Commission? Actually a sustainable reconstruction of the Commission does not include that simple step only. It depends on various things which need to be found out by research. I have some recommendations in this regard.

Firstly, the Election Commission Secretariat (ECS) should be separated from the Prime Minister's Office and should be placed under the Election Commission itself. Secondly, the number of the Election Commissioners should be increased so that the present coterie running the Election Commission becomes a decided minority. Thirdly, party loyalist, which had been placed at district, upazila and thana levels apparently to influence election results, should be removed. Fourthly, the magisterial power that has been given to law enforcement agencies should be withdrawn. Fifthly, the promotion of the election functionaries of the Election Commission Secretariat should be accelerated thus functionaries from admin cadre of the government could not fill up the posts of the ECS. Sixthly, Election laws of the country should be amended. Seventhly, the present Election Tribunal should be strengthened. Eighthly, after the election, the counting of the votes should be in front of a designated political committee formed by all party representatives. Ninthly, government should arrange some special-trainings periodically for the functionaries of the ECS in order to make them efficient for conducting free and fair elections. Finally, any other matter deemed necessary for holding a free and fair election should be considered.