Former Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder has laid strong emphasis on forming an election-time non-party government and dissolving the parliament for an international-standard election in Bangladesh.

He said while speaking at an opinion-sharing meeting held among the former Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on Sunday.

The outgoing EC said, "In my opinion, there is only one challenge in the next national election. And that is – to hold the election with the participation of all parties."

"If the election is not participatory, it will not be acceptable nationally and internationally. On the other hand, the next national election will have to be of international-standard. A neutral government is needed to hold an international-standard election. Only an acceptable government can ensure holding an acceptable election," he added.

If lawmakers do not resign before the national election, it is not possible to ensure a level-playing field or to ensure equal opportunity for all, he said.

"The deputy commissioners are usually appointed as returning officers in their areas during the national elections. The DCs need to be replaced by the senior officials of the Election Commission. If it is needed to appoint the deputy commissioners as the returning officers, then, they must be transferred to different districts before the schedule of the national elections," he added.

He further said, "The Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs have to be placed under the Election Commission during elections. Activities of the police must be strictly monitored and controlled at that time."

He thinks that that the Election Commission and the government need a dialogue to hold a free, fair, acceptable and participatory election. "To implement the outline that I presented earlier, it is essential to amend the Constitution," he said.

If the constitution is not amended, it will not be possible to bring changes to the electoral process in Bangladesh, he added.

With CEC Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair, the opinion-sharing meeting was also joined by former CEC Shamsul Huda who conducted the 2008 general election, Justice Abdur Rouf who conducted the 1991 general election, former ECs Mohammad Shahnewaz, Mahbub Talukder and Abu Hafiz spoke at the opinion-sharing meeting.

Former secretaries Mohammad Abdullah and Mohammad Sadique, former additional secretary Mokhlesur Rahman and Jesmine Tuli also spoke at the meeting.