He urged President Iajuddin Ahmed to incorporate the condition through a new clause into the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972 to maintain discipline during elections.

The former CEC made the suggestions while addressing a roundtable on 'Democracy Protection and Acceptable Election' at the Jatiya Press Club. Institute of Policy Development (IPD), a UK-based research and training institute, organised the programme where several suggestions for holding a free and fair election were presented by the participants.

"In India, political parties failing to get 2.5 percent of the total cast votes are not allowed to take part in the next election. Bangladesh can apply this condition for eliminating non-popular political parties from the polls," Rauf said.

The former CEC critcised the statements against election. "Statements like 'election will not be allowed to take place' or 'election will be resisted,' are against the practice of democracy," he said urging the political parties to stop making of such statement.

Election is needed to resolve the present political impasse, he said adding that if necessary, another poll could be held after one or two years.

He also accused the political parties of taking extortion to run their activities.

Rauf also said that nation will not sustain if the constitution is violated and practice of democracy will be barred if the election is not held in due time.

He also suggested re-modelling of the present democracy according to the national need and issuing identity cards for all citizens.

President and advisers to the caretaker government will have to be stricter for holding the next election, he added.

Eminent Journalist Sadek Khan said that the nation will plunge into a deep constitutional crisis if the general election is not held.

"Poll day can only be deferred ignoring the three-month stipulated time of the caretaker government after announcing an emergency situation, which is unexpected to all," he said while addressing the meeting.

Researcher Dr Atiar Rahman feared that democracy cannot be kept working if political parties continue to make vital institutes, like caretaker government, election commission and supreme court, controversial through political statements and activities.

Among others, Dhaka University Professors M Rokanuzzaman and Rahul Amin, Barrister Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin and IPD Executive Director Nurullah Patwary also took part at the meeting.