The Election Commission (EC) will have to earn public confidence through its activities before the national election to make it credible and acceptable, senior journalists said yesterday.

"Image crisis" is a major challenge for the commission, and it is not possible for it to hold a fair and acceptable poll with a controversial image, said Editor of the daily Manabjamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury.

Referring to the recent Gazipur-4 by-poll, he said, "Low turn out rate in that election has proved a lack of public trust in the commission."

Speaking at a meeting with the commission on demarcation of constituencies in the capital's National Economic Council conference room, the journalists also laid stress on dialogues with the political parties, especially BNP, to build good relation with the main opposition and avert further political crisis.

Head of News ofChannel-i Shykh Seraj said it was not possible to hold a fair election ignoring BNP He urged the commission not to increase the number of constituencies in Dhaka.

Boishaki Television Chief Editor Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the EC should hold talks with political parties before taking any decision relating to elections.

The commission will take the decision on demarcation of constituencies after dialogues with political parties, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakib Uddin.

ARMYDEPLOYMENT ISSUE

Although EC Secretary Muhammed Sadique, quoting the CEC, on Tuesday said the commission had no plan of army deployment to maintain law and order in the next election, the CEC yesterday said the information was wrongly reflected in media.

"Before every election, we take decision on what kinds of law enforcement agencies will be deployed, considering the overall situation. It is not right to finalise the decision so early on what sorts of security measure will be needed in the next general election. We will enforce maximum security considering the situation before the national election," he said.