They were speaking at a discussion on 'Probable nature of the next election and the parliament' organised by Society for Peace and Progress at the National Press Club in the city with Lieutenant General (Retd) M Harunur Rashid in the chair.

Speaking at the discussion, former adviser to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin said High Court verdict regarding voters' eight-point right to information should be implemented immediately.

Criticising the Members of the Parliament (MP), he said the MPs have become feudal lords and except law making, which is their key responsibility, they do everything.

President of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samannay Parishad HM Noman said an Election Care taking Management Commission should be formed comprising different professionals and political leaders together.

Expressing discontent over the present system of election, former Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Saleh Ahmed said only the corrupt people would be elected with this system and the care taker system of government is also a corrupt process as the chief of the care taker government comes through a corrupt way.

Partisanship started to grip the judiciary since the system of caretaker government was introduced, said Barrister Tania Amir adding that militancy as well as corruption is the two main barriers in establishing democracy in the country.

President of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (FEMA) Munira Khan said implementation of electoral laws is a must and all political parties should be registered with the EC.

While reading a keynote paper, Lieutenant General (Retd) Harun said politics has been criminalised totally and people who can afford to invest Tk 10-20 crore for electoral purpose get elected.

If the present situation continues, he said, the musclemen and criminals would play the vital role and would try hard to rig vote, which would turn the parliament to a chamber of the dishonest and corrupt millionaires.

He urged the civil society to play its due role and continue movement for a free and fair election.

A roadmap for the post-election developmental activities should be drawn immediately, he added.

Economist Dr Monwar Hossain, Peace Society President Albert P Costa, General Secretary Jamaluddin Ahmed, Engineer Golam Mohammad Anwar, Editor of the daily New Nation Mostofa Kamal Majumder, Editor of the daily Desh Bangla Ferdous Ahmed Quoreshi and Film Director Chashi Nazrul Islam also spoke on the occasion.