As part of the reforms, the authorities should take immediate steps to make the registration of political parties mandatory, adopt measures for quick disposal of election-related disputes and to recast the constitutional institutions such as Anti-Corruption Commission and Public Service Commission, they said at a roundtable.

They also suggested empowering the Election Commission (EC) to cancel candidature.

They called on the caretaker government to hold an acceptable election in the shortest possible time after preparing a voter list in order to hand over power to an elected government.

Shujan or Shushashoner Janney Nagorik organised the roundtable on 'What needs to be done to hold a fair and meaningful election' at the National Press Club in the city.

The speakers said the candidates must submit their personal information and statements of wealth to the EC so that the people can choose the right person as their representative.

Moderating the roundtable, former adviser to the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan suggested involving the Union Parishads in preparing the electoral roll.

The caretaker government should hold Upazila and national elections simultaneously, depoliticise the administration and the Public Service Commission, strengthen the local government and ensure empowerment of voters, he said.

About the voter list, some speakers said only local government representatives can help prepare an acceptable voter list in the quickest possible time. Otherwise, it will take long time to do so, they added.

Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi said, "We should prepare union-based permanent voter roll and it would be updated with the help of Union Parishad."

Presenting a keynote paper, Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the political parties should launch a drive against the bad elements within the party and take action against them.

The political parties should not nominate corrupt people in the election, he said, adding that the election would not be meaningful unless the political parties and candidates comply with the election rules.

The Election Commission should also take steps to put a curb on the election expenses of candidates and to dispose of election-related disputes quickly, he said.

Former adviser to the caretaker government ASM Shahjahan stressed the need for transparency of the Election Commission activities.

He also urged the authorities to review the appointments made on the basis of political considerations during the tenure of previous government.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Mainul Hossain Chowdhury, ABM Musa, Syed Abul Maksud, Syed Anwar Hossain, Prof Asif Nazrul, Shah Abdul Hannan, Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Firoz M Hasan and AG Mahmud also spoke.