APPOINTMENT OVER EC RECONSTITUTION

BNP sends formal letter to president

The BNP yesterday sent a letter to Bangabhaban, seeking an appointment with President Abdul Hamid to submit the party’s 13-point proposal on forming the Election Commission (EC).
 The party sent the letter at 4:10pm, after having failed to get a response from the President’s military secretary to their verbal request for an appointment on Sunday.
Earlier, briefing reporters at the party’s Naya Paltan headquarters, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the chairperson’s private secretary, Sattar, had spoken to the President’s military secretary over the phone for an appointment with the President, but he did not get back to him.
“This time, we are sending a formal letter seeking the appointment. We hope that as the guardian of the state, the President will give our delegation time to meet him,” Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said they expect the President to take the initiative to free the nation from the present crises by taking the  proposal into consideration
He said party chairperson Khaleda Zia had submitted a well thought-out proposal as part of her responsibility towards the nation to end the political impasse.
In her Tweet the following day, Khaleda made it clear that the proposal does not impose any condition.
The President and government can form the next Election Commission based on consensus through discussion with political parties, or a law can be enacted after discussion with the political parties on this, Fakhrul said.    
“There was no mention anywhere that this proposal should be accepted. However, the proposal was prepared because of the present situation and political culture of Bangladesh,” he added. Fakhrul rejected the allegation that the BNP had violated the Constitution by placing the proposal. It was prepared after considering the Constitution, and they do not think that it has been violated in any way, he said.
 On the charge that the Jamaat has been tactfully included in the discussion, Fakhrul said they have clearly mentioned the political parties which should participate in the talks.
“There is nothing opaque and no tactics in it. The proposal has been made on the basis of reality,” he added.
About deployment of the Army and giving them magisterial powers during election, the BNP leader said there is precedence of the Army being deployed to help the civil authorities. There is no scope to mislead the people by creating confusion among them by saying that it tantamounts to military rule, he noted.
The position and authority of the civil administration is not undermined if the armed forces are given responsibility during national need, he added.
 Referring to previous experience, Fakhrul said deployment of the Army at the field level had substantially reduced anarchy, irregularities and rigging during polling.
However, deployment of the Army as a striking force does not bring effective and satisfactory results, he added.
Fakhrul also refuted the allegation that the President's constitutional powers would be curtailed. They want the President to consider their proposal, as the Constitution empowers him to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and four election commissioners, he said.
He called upon all concerned not to resort to dilly-dallying tactics and shun whimsical stand to form an independent, neutral and courageous EC.
“Let us build national unity based on the proposal of the 'deshnetri' and work for sustainable development and economic emancipation by freeing the nation from the political crises. We have to be accountable to the future generation and the people. We do not want to be a failure. We want to achieve victory after removing all obstacles,” he said.  
BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said there are records in the past to form the EC based on consensus. “Discussions can be started based on the proposal to make the EC stronger,” he said.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed criticized the AL for rejecting the proposal, saying that it is the ruling party's political blunder.  
“Discussion on the proposal can be started and it is not mandatory to accept all things in it,” he said.  
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Moyeen Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, among others, were present on the occasion.
On November 18, Khaleda Zia placed her party’s 13-point proposal to reconstitute the EC based on consensus of all political parties having representation in Parliaments since Independence.

 

APPOINTMENT OVER EC RECONSTITUTION

BNP sends formal letter to president

The BNP yesterday sent a letter to Bangabhaban, seeking an appointment with President Abdul Hamid to submit the partys 13-point proposal on forming the Election Commission (EC). The party sent the letter at 4:10pm, after having failed to get a response from the Presidents military secretary to their verbal request for an appointment on Sunday. Earlier, briefing reporters at the partys Naya Paltan headquarters, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the chairpersons private secretary, Sattar, had spoken to the Presidents military secretary over the phone for an appointment with the President, but he did not get back to him. This time, we are sending a formal letter seeking the appointment. We hope that as the guardian of the state, the President will give our delegation time to meet him, Fakhrul said. The BNP leader said they expect the President to take the initiative to free the nation from the present crises by taking the proposal into consideration He said party chairperson Khaleda Zia had submitted a well thought-out proposal as part of her responsibility towards the nation to end the political impasse. In her Tweet the following day, Khaleda made it clear that the proposal does not impose any condition. The President and government can form the next Election Commission based on consensus through discussion with political parties, or a law can be enacted after discussion with the political parties on this, Fakhrul said. There was no mention anywhere that this proposal should be accepted. However, the proposal was prepared because of the present situation and political culture of Bangladesh, he added. Fakhrul rejected the allegation that the BNP had violated the Constitution by placing the proposal. It was prepared after considering the Constitution, and they do not think that it has been violated in any way, he said. On the charge that the Jamaat has been tactfully included in the discussion, Fakhrul said they have clearly mentioned the political parties which should participate in the talks. There is nothing opaque and no tactics in it. The proposal has been made on the basis of reality, he added. About deployment of the Army and giving them magisterial powers during election, the BNP leader said there is precedence of the Army being deployed to help the civil authorities. There is no scope to mislead the people by creating confusion among them by saying that it tantamounts to military rule, he noted. The position and authority of the civil administration is not undermined if the armed forces are given responsibility during national need, he added. Referring to previous experience, Fakhrul said deployment of the Army at the field level had substantially reduced anarchy, irregularities and rigging during polling. However, deployment of the Army as a striking force does not bring effective and satisfactory results, he added. Fakhrul also refuted the allegation that the Presidents constitutional powers would be curtailed. They want the President to consider their proposal, as the Constitution empowers him to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and four election commissioners, he said. He called upon all concerned not to resort to dilly-dallying tactics and shun whimsical stand to form an independent, neutral and courageous EC. Let us build national unity based on the proposal of the deshnetri and work for sustainable development and economic emancipation by freeing the nation from the political crises. We have to be accountable to the future generation and the people. We do not want to be a failure. We want to achieve victory after removing all obstacles, he said. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said there are records in the past to form the EC based on consensus. Discussions can be started based on the proposal to make the EC stronger, he said. Barrister Moudud Ahmed criticized the AL for rejecting the proposal, saying that it is the ruling partys political blunder. Discussion on the proposal can be started and it is not mandatory to accept all things in it, he said. BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Moyeen Khan, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, among others, were present on the occasion. On November 18, Khaleda Zia placed her partys 13-point proposal to reconstitute the EC based on consensus of all political parties having representation in Parliaments since Independence.