DHAKA: The opposition Awami League and its allies on Friday officially announced the much talked about set of electoral reform proposals to, what they said, free the next general election from any evil influence.

The election is due in early 2007.

The League president, Sheikh Hasina, announced the joint reform proposals, formulated by 10 opposition parties and groups, at a crowded press conference at the National Press Club.

The parties are Awami League, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Gana Forum, Samyabadi Dal, Ganatantri Party, Gana Azadi League, Ganotantrick Majdur Party, National Awami Party, Hasanul Haq’s faction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and the Communist Kendra.

The joint reform proposals suggest that the chief adviser and the other advisers of the caretaker government, which conducts the general election and runs the administration for 90 days during the election, and all the election commissioners, including the chief election commissioner, should be acceptable to all and be appointed through consensus of all political parties.

The proposal said that the president will appoint acceptable persons as chief adviser and advisers in consultation with all political parties.

The proposal suggested that eligibility for being appointed chief adviser should not be limited to judges only, rather it should be expanded to other professions.

The president will act in all matters on the advice of the chief adviser during the tenure of the caretaker government, keeping parliamentary democracy in consideration.

The ministry of defence will be entrusted to and run by the caretaker government.