Dhaka: Bangladesher Biplabi Workers Party and Jatiya Ganotantrik Dal (Jagpa) have proposed before the Election Commission (EC) for dissolution of Parliament and deployment of the armed forces ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

Both the parties also proposed refraining from the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVM) in the next national election.

The two political parties placed their respective proposals taking part in the EC's dialogues separately on Wednesday at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

About the polls-time government, Biplabi Workers Party proposed that the EC play the role of a supervising government during the election, but Jagpa said the government should be formed with retired government officials, former justices and noted personalities who would be honest, credible and impartial.

A 13-member delegation of Biplabi Workers Party, led by its general secretary Saiful Haque, joined talks at 11am, while a 12-member Jagpa delegation, led by its acting President Prof Rehana Prodhan, participated in the separate talks at 3pm.

Biplabi Workers Party placed a 23-point proposal and Jagpa, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance placed a 14-point proposal in the two meetings held with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

"We've proposed that the Election Commission needs to play a role of a supervising government during the election. And some important ministries should be brought under the Commission," Saiful Haque said while talking to reporters after his party's two-hour meeting with the EC.

The civil administration, including armed forces, all law enforcement agencies, the cabinet division, home, public administration, finance, information and local government ministries and other ministries that are engaged in election should be run under direct supervision of the EC, he added.

About the army deployment he said, "Alongside regular law enforcers, the armed forces should be deployed from before and after the election as general people and voters have no big question-marks over their neutrality."

Talking about EVMs, Saiful said the machines should not be used in the next national election. "The EVMs can be introduced in the local government election first on pilot basis before the use of the machines in the national election."

It is essential to dissolve Parliament on the day the election schedule will be announced for the sake of creating level-playing field for all in the polls, he added.

He said Parliament should be formed with 50 percent representatives elected through direct votes and 50 percent representatives elected through proportionate votes of the political parties.

The other proposals include curbing the use of black money and muscle power, restoring 'no-vote' provision, introducing online nomination submission system, and reducing the ceiling of election expenditure at Tk 5 lakh from the existing Tk 25 lakh, decreasing the amount of security money of the candidates at Tk 5,000 and appointing returning officers from the EC's own staff,

Jagpa in the written proposals said the army will have to be deployed 30 days before the election to recover illegal arms and the army will have to be given magistracy power.

About the polls-time government, the party said if the present Prime Minister remains as the head of the election-time government, the country's image and electoral system will collapse. "So, the Prime Minister can be sent on a three-month leisure trip cancelling her executive power," one of the written proposals reads.

The other proposal include reshuffling local administration massively, providing the EC's with more power during election and ensuring attendance of polling agents of candidates to prevent vote-rigging.

The EC on August 24 started its dialogues with 40 registered political parties to take their opinions over its preparation for the next national election likely to be held late December 2018. Following today's meetings, it has talked with seven parties.