Dhaka desk: President Abdul Hamid is going to hold talks with political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) drawing appreciation from ruling Awami League (AL), the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the civil society. The president will start the dialogue on December 18 and the first meeting will be held with BNP at Bangabhaban at 4.30 pm on the day, president's office sources said.
The president will hold meetings with Jatiya Party (Ershad) on December 20, with Liberal Democratic Party and with Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) on December 21 and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)-Inu on December 22, the sources said. Although the sources did not disclose the date for talks with ruling Awami League, they said that the president will hold meetings with other registered political parties in phases.
Awami League leaders welcomed the President’s decision on the formation of an independent EC, as laid down in the Constitution.
The BNP leaders expect the President to take into account the proposals mooted by Khaleda Zia in forming a commission based on consensus. The civil society members expressed hope that the President’s action would not invite any controversy. Their comments came shortly after the President invited five registered political parties, including the BNP. The President has given them separate appointments for talks.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir thanked the President for taking the initiative to hold talks with the political parties on the formation of the EC. He said they would obviously discuss the proposals given by Khaleda Zia on the formation of the EC.
“The formation of an independent, efficient and acceptable EC is possible by arriving at a consensus through dialogues with the political parties,” he said. Replying to a question, he said they would decide at a party meeting as to who would attend the meeting with the President.
Standing committee member Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain said the President had taken the initiative in the light of the proposals given by Khaleda Zia.
“We hope the President will take into account Khaleda Zia’s 13-point set of proposals to reform the commission. It will also help resolve the current political impasse,” he added.
Another standing committee member, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, too, hoped that the President would form the EC based on consensus among political parties. Welcoming the President’s decision, Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said: “The AL believes in people’s power, independent EC and freedom of voters.”
He said they would welcome whatever decision the President would take regarding the formation of an independent EC.
Former election commissioner Brig. Gen. (retd) Sakhawat Hossain hailed the President for his initiative to form the EC through talks.
He, however, said he was not aware of the agenda of the talks between the President and the political parties, adding that he had no idea whether they would discuss the formation of a search committee to suggest names for the EC or form the EC directly. “We hope the President won’t take any decision that will be controversial,” he added.
The former election commissioner expressed hope that the President would also talk with the civil society members over the issue.
The President will hold talks with the BNP on December 18, with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Krishak Sramik Janata League on December 21 and hold a meeting with the Jatiya Samajtantrik Party-Inu on December 22.
The President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters that the President would hold the first meetings with the BNP at 4:30pm on December 18. The meeting with the BNP will be held exactly a month after BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia placed a 13-point set of proposals on the reconstitution of the EC.
UNB adds: BNP yesterday received a letter from Bangabhaban inviting it to hold a dialogue with President Abdul Hamid on constitution of the new Election Commission.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi received the letter, signed by President’s office secretary Shampad Barua, around 2:25pm.
The letter, addressed to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has requested the party to meet the President at 4:30pm at Bangabhaban on December 18 for holding talks. It also asked the party to send the names of a 10-member BNP delegation to Bangabhaban for the talks.
“As per Article 118 of the constitution, the Honorable President has been empowered to appoint the chief election commissioner and not more than four election commissioners. As the tenure of the present election commission expires soon, the Honorable President has expressed interest to take opinions of the political parties to form the election commission,” reads the letter.
Talking to UNB after receiving the letter, Rizvi said, “I’ve received the letter sent through a Bangabhaban messenger. We think it’s the first step of the President towards forming the Election Commission.” Contacted, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “We sent a letter to the President to discuss our proposal on Election Commission formation. We thank him as he responded to our letter.”
