The media representatives who joined the Election Commission’s (EC’s) dialogue on Wednesday suggested the Commission to take all-out steps for holding a participatory and credible national election.

Like the civil society members, the journalists also suggested the EC to earn the trust of people and the political parties through activities, reports the UNB.

Most of them also suggested the Commission to deploy army in the next polls or holding it in a free and fair manner. However, some of them opposed army deployment in the election.

‘We called upon the Election Commission to take all the necessary steps for holding a free, fair and acceptable election with the participation of all the major parties. A political consensus is also a must for an inclusive and fair election,’ said Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutta.

Emerging from the dialogue, he also told reporters that it will not be possible to ensure a fair and credible election without the participation of the major parties in it. ‘So, we’ve suggested the Commission to give priority to earn the confidence of the political parties and people through their acts and impartial and independent attitude.’

A faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists president Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said, ‘Most of the participants said the EC must gain the political parties’ confidence so that all parties join the polls.’

The Election Commission started its dialogue with the media representatives around 10:15am. Out of 38 invitees, 26 senior journalists joined talks at the conference room of Nirbachon Bhaban in the city with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Kaler Kantho executive Mostafa Kamal, Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam, Amader Orthoneeti editor Nayeemul Islam Khan, Jugantor acting editor Saiful Alam, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutta, Daily Manobkantha acting editor Anis Alamgir, Jatiya Press Club president Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman and its general secretary Farida Yasmin, President of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and its general secretary Omar Faruk, General secretary of another faction of BFUJ Mohammad Abdullah, journalists Mahfuzullah, Anisul Hoque, Kazi Siraj and Amanullah Kabir, columnists Sohrab Hasan, Mahbub Kamal and Bibhurangan Sarkar, Ittefaq managing editor Ashish Saikat, Jaijaidin Editor Kazi Rokunuddin Ahmad and Shaptahik editor Golam Mortuza are among the participants.

Four election commissioners Mahbub Talukdar, Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, and EC acting secretary Helaluddin Ahmed are present at the dialogue.

In the second phase of its dialogue, the Election Commission will also sit in talks with electronic and online media persons on Thursday. The EC invited 34 electronic and online media persons on the second day.

On July 31 last, the EC started its dialogue with talks with civil society members. Out of 59 invitees, 33 joined the dialogue.

The dialogue with political parties will start in the last week of the current month. The Commission will sit with six political parties, two parties each day, before Eid-ul-Azha.

As part of the EC’s roadmap prepared for the next general election, the EC will also sit in talks with 40 registered political parties, election observers, women leaders and election experts.