NAP seeks permanent law to form EC

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) today placed a seven-point proposal, including enactment of a permanent law to constitute an acceptable Election Commission (EC) as its delegation held a dialogue with President M Abdul Hamid here this evening.

The proposals include: enacting a permanent law in line with article 118 of the Constitution and appointing competent people who would be respectful to the people’s aspirations and believe in the Liberation War spirit.

A seven-member NAP delegation led by party’s Acting Executive President Ivy Ahmed took part in the dialogue. The dialogue lasted for about an hour starting at about 4pm.

After the dialogue, President’s Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS that the President held talks with NAP on the third day of the ongoing dialogue with political parties over the formation of an independent, neutral, acceptable, strong and effective Election Commission.

Welcoming the NAP leaders in the talks at Bangabhaban, the President said the formation of an Election Commission is a constitutional obligation and “the prime object of the dialogue is only to form an acceptable Election Commission.”

It would be possible to form an efficient, strong and acceptable EC through holding effective discussions with the political parties in phases, he added.

The head of state sought the full cooperation of all political parties in the EC formation process.

NAP representatives who attended the dialogue were: Party presidium members – Advocate Abdur Rahman and Kazi Siddiqur Rahman, acting General Secretary Ismail Hossain, Organizing Secretary Shafiq Ahmed Khan, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Partha Sarothy Chakraborty and member of secretariats Anil Chakraborty.

President Hamid held a talk with the Jatiya Party, the main opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, on December 20. A dialogue was held with the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) on December 22.

Bangladesh Tarikat Federation will sit in a dialogue with the President at 4 pm and Khilafat Majlis at 6 pm on Monday (December 27) . The President will hold a dialogue with Bangladesh Workers’ Party on Tuesday (December 28) at 4 pm.

Besides, talks with Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Islamic Oikya Jote will be held at 4 pm and at 6 pm respectively on Wednesday (December 29). The dialogue will be held with Gano Forum at 6 pm and with Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) at 7 pm on January 2 (Wednesday) and talks with the Ganotantric Party and Bangladesh Communist Party , respectively will be held at 6 pm and 7 pm on January 3 (Monday).

However, no date has been set for talks with other political parties.

Secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban were also present in the talks.

Earlier, a series of dialogues were held with the participation of political parties ahead of the ninth, tenth and eleventh parliamentary polls.

The President has the authority to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and upto four Election Commissioners.

In the last few terms, the President formed the Election Commission on the basis of the recommendations of the ‘Search Committee’.

The current EC’s five-year term will expire on February 14 next year.

The President of the Republic will form a new commission, under which the 12th parliamentary elections will be held. (BSS)