Any polls under updated voter list to be illegal

"There is still some time to make a new voter list and I may name a chief election commissioner who would be acceptable to all as well as eligible to hold a free and fair election," he said at a roundtable on 'Free and fair election: Expectation of the nation'.

The Lawyers for Transparency organised the roundtable at Abdul Ahad Hall on the Supreme Court premises.

Justice Naimuddin also said that the constitution does not give the chief adviser of the caretaker government the authority to do anything that influence elections.

"Article 58 D(2) clearly states that the non-party caretaker government shall give the Election Commission all possible aid and assistance that may be required for holding the general election of members of parliament peacefully, fairly and impartially," he said.

Since the constitution only permits the chief adviser to carry out routine activities of such a government with the aid and assistance of employees of the republic, what the last chief adviser did by involving himself in the transfers and appointments is nothing but a violation of the constitution, he added.

Justice Naimuddin also stressed the need for political parties' commitment to democracy. All the problems would be resolved if they really want to strengthen democracy instead of competing for power, he added.

Justice Kazi Ebadul Haque said that reforms are a must as democratic practices are not respected in the country.

The speakers also called for making registration of political parties mandatory, ensuring democracy within the parties, resolving the election disputes within 180 days after the election and not allowing black money holders and criminals to take part in the election.

Justice Habibur Rahman Khan and ABM Bayezid, president of Lawyers for Transparency, also spoke at the roundtable.