The second round of talks between the Election Commission (EC) and eminent citizens on Tuesday was attended by only 17 invitees, out of the 39.
The talks, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal with representatives of different professions to prepare a roadmap for the commission’s future activities took place at the commission’s offices in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
Prominent citizens who took part in the dialogue are - Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Zafrullah Chowdhury, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh Iftekharuzzaman, Writer and Researcher Mohiuddin Ahmad, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairman of Centre for Urban Studies Nazrul Islam and former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder.
The others are - General Secretary at Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum Sanjeeb Drong, Coordinator of Nijera Kori Khushi Kabir, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation Shaheen Anam, former secretary Abu Alam, Leadership Studies Foundation Chairman Sinha MA Sayeed, former secretary Abdul Latif Mandal, Dhaka University (DU) Profs Robaet Ferdous and Sheikh Hafizur, CPD Fellow Prof Mustafizur Rahman, President of Governance and Rights Centre Zahurul Alam.
On March 13, only 13 of 30 invited participants joined the EC's initiative to hold the first dialogue. Since the previous turnout was low, this time the constitutional body invited a large group of people.
