Citing reforms as one of the central demands of the recent uprising, Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Electoral Reform Commission, expressed concern that some people appear to be neglecting this crucial aspect.
He also highlighted that others are suggesting reforms could be postponed.
Speaking at a roundtable titled "Priority Report Submission by the Reform Commission: What Next?", organised by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) on Monday (23 December), Badiul Alam stated, "One of the demands of the movement against dictatorship was to ensure that no one could turn into a despot again. Let this be clear: Never, ever again. We do not want authoritarianism, totalitarian systems, or fascism to rear their heads. That is precisely why reforms are necessary."
He continued, "Some may have forgotten this, and others are suggesting that reforms can wait. Certainly, some reforms will need to occur over time. However, we must not forget that one of the primary demands was deep and structural reforms to prevent a recurrence of the authoritarian and fascist regimes of the past. To achieve this, widespread public support for reform is essential, and the media is already playing an invaluable role in fostering this consensus."
Addressing inequality, he noted, "The elimination of disparity was another significant demand of this uprising. Unfortunately, economic inequality is soaring to unprecedented heights, and the situation is spiralling out of control. We must address this issue urgently."
Badiul Alam also pointed out another key factor behind the uprising: "There was a clear demand for exemplary punishment for those responsible for wrongdoings, including crimes against humanity, economic offences, and other criminal acts. Justice must prevail, and those individuals must be brought to account through a fair judicial process."
Highlighting steps taken towards electoral reforms, he mentioned submitting preliminary opinions to the Chief Adviser. "We have stated categorically: no EVMs. Furthermore, there should be an investigation into those who introduced the EVMs."
He added that the inclusion of a "None of the Above" option in the voting process has also been proposed to the Chief Adviser.
