President to hold talks on EC formation

BNP submits proposal

President Abdul Hamid will hold dialogue with all registered political parties to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC), reports UNB. "As per article 118 of the constitution, the honourable President will hold dialogue with registered political parties before appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and commissioners. The dialogue will begin after December 16,” President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told the news agency yesterday. However, a source at Bangabhaban said the dialogue will begin on December 18 with BNP. There are 40 registered political parties now in the country. In 2012, then President Zillur Rahman appointed the  present CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad to lead the five-member EC through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties. The tenure of current EC expires in February next. The new EC will conduct the next general election scheduled to be held in 2019.
Our Staff Reporter Adds: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has received an assurance that President Abdul Hamid would soon begin talks with all political parties on reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said yesterday.
He was speaking to reporters at the Bangabhaban gate after handing over Khaleda Zia’s proposal on the reconstitution of the EC and a letter to the President seeking his appointment.
Rizvi quoted the President’s assistant military secretary, Moinur Rahman, who received the proposal and letter, as saying, “The President has gone to Singapore on Tuesday morning for treatment. He’ll begin talks with all the political parties after his arrival on December 11.” He, however, could not specify when the talks would begin. Earlier, a two-member delegation led by Rizvi went to Bangabhaban at 11:15am.
Replying to a question, he said the party would decide its priorities after an appointment with the President for talks. He expressed hope that the President, as the guardian of the state, would be proactive to reconstitute the EC, the tenure of which ends in February next year.
The other member of the delegation was BNP vice chairman Maj. Gen. (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury. Earlier, on November 18, Khaleda Zia placed her party’s 13-point proposal to reform the EC on the basis of a consensus amongst all political parties that have had representation in Parliament since Independence. Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina said at a press conference on Saturday that they would accept the President’s decision on the formation of the EC. Under the Constitution, the President appoints the EC.

President to hold talks on EC formation

BNP submits proposal

President Abdul Hamid will hold dialogue with all registered political parties to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC), reports UNB. As per article 118 of the constitution, the honourable President will hold dialogue with registered political parties before appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and commissioners. The dialogue will begin after December 16, Presidents Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told the news agency yesterday. However, a source at Bangabhaban said the dialogue will begin on December 18 with BNP. There are 40 registered political parties now in the country. In 2012, then President Zillur Rahman appointed the present CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad to lead the five-member EC through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties. The tenure of current EC expires in February next. The new EC will conduct the next general election scheduled to be held in 2019. Our Staff Reporter Adds: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has received an assurance that President Abdul Hamid would soon begin talks with all political parties on reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said yesterday. He was speaking to reporters at the Bangabhaban gate after handing over Khaleda Zias proposal on the reconstitution of the EC and a letter to the President seeking his appointment. Rizvi quoted the Presidents assistant military secretary, Moinur Rahman, who received the proposal and letter, as saying, The President has gone to Singapore on Tuesday morning for treatment. Hell begin talks with all the political parties after his arrival on December 11. He, however, could not specify when the talks would begin. Earlier, a two-member delegation led by Rizvi went to Bangabhaban at 11:15am. Replying to a question, he said the party would decide its priorities after an appointment with the President for talks. He expressed hope that the President, as the guardian of the state, would be proactive to reconstitute the EC, the tenure of which ends in February next year. The other member of the delegation was BNP vice chairman Maj. Gen. (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury. Earlier, on November 18, Khaleda Zia placed her partys 13-point proposal to reform the EC on the basis of a consensus amongst all political parties that have had representation in Parliament since Independence. Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina said at a press conference on Saturday that they would accept the Presidents decision on the formation of the EC. Under the Constitution, the President appoints the EC.