'Form independent monitoring cell to make polls acceptable'
They also called on the caretaker government to allow all media organisations to have access to election results in order to avoid manipulation of the results.
Former justices, lawyers and civil society members took part in the roundtable on 'Election 2007: Acceptability and national expectation' organised by Lawyers For Transparency at the south hall of Supreme Court Bar Association in the city.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said the Election Commission should reject nomination papers of black money holders so that the nation can elect honest lawmakers.
The speakers said strengthening parliament is very essential for the nation and that the fair election is the only way to allow democracy to flourish.
They also warned that the nation would plunge into deep crisis if the caretaker government fails to hold an election acceptable to all.
Justice Naim Uddin Ahmed said the Election Commission (EC) has prepared the voter list in violation of rules, which is not acceptable.
"The Election Commission should have prepared the voter list by going door to door, but it did not do. Anyone can file a writ petition against the EC for violating the fundamental rules," he added.
Underscoring the strict election monitoring system, Justice Habibur Rahman Khan said all print and electronic media organisations should be allowed to collect all kinds of election data so that the countrymen can know what is happening.
He suggested forming an independent monitoring cell, which will observe the election and preserve the results on computer so that the results can be compared with the results announced by the Election Commission.
President of Lawyers for Transparency Advocate ABM Bayezeed, Executive Director of Bangladesh Society for Constitutional Rights Aminur Rahman Sagir also spoke.
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