Staff Correspondent:

The National Citizen Party (NCP) held its first-ever meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission (EC) headquarters on Sunday (April 20).

Talking to reporters after the meeting, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said discussions were held on how the EC could be brought into the ongoing reform process.

He said officials involved in irregularities during the past three national elections must be given exemplary punishment, and those responsible over the past 15 years should be brought to justice accordingly.

“We want to see a system where even village mosque imams or school teachers can get the opportunity to become members of parliament,” he added, emphasising the need for inclusive political participation.

Nasir also demanded that within 48 hours of gazette publication, there must be a certification declaring the election as fair and credible.

“Loan defaulters were allowed to contest the polls in the past,” he said. “We have asked for a thorough investigation into such matters and for resolving them through legal processes, which the EC has agreed to.”

On Sunday was the last date for submitting applications for political party registration. However, NCP had submitted a request last Thursday seeking a 90-day extension.

This was the party’s first official meeting with the EC, which lasted nearly two hours starting from 12:30pm and included a five-member NCP delegation.