AL keeps trust in president, BNP irked

Reacting to announcement of the search committee for the new EC by the President's House, the Awami League (AL) said that it had not proposed any name and had left it to the President choose persons for the panel.

The BNP, on the other hand, expressed its frustration over formation of the search committee, saying it was like an AL-chosen panel.
The reactions came immediately after announcement of the search committee by the President’s House yesterday (Wednesday). “It is the jurisdiction of the President to provide names for the search committee to reform the EC. The AL did not propose any name,” said AL general secretary Obaidul Quader. The AL leader was talking to reporters after signing an agreement at a city hotel.

“It is the sole jurisdiction of the honourable President as to who he would nominate. We have not given any name and do not expect any person of our party to be included in the search committee,” he said.
 On the other hand, speaking at a meeting at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed his frustration over the search committee, saying his party is not only angry but also aggrieved. 
“The AL wants to hold another January 5-like election through this committee… They want to fish in troubled waters,” he alleged.
Fakhrul said there was a ray of hope when the President began talks with political parties on formation of the EC, but this hope has turned into disappointment, creating a serious uncertainty.
He said it was the “AL’s search committee”.  The chairman of the Public Service Commission, comptroller and auditor general and the pro Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University, who have been accommodated in the search committee, were appointed by the present government.
Referring to the reaction of the pro-VC of Chittagong University in a private TV channel, Fakhrul said it shows the nature of the search committee.
The BNP leader said the President is an institution and his party expected a neutral decision from him as an opportunity was created to resolve the current political impasse. “But he (President) did not accept it. Now we can understand what type of EC would be formed by this search committee. With this, the country is being pushed to an abyss,” he observed.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said he has nothing to say about the search committee, but hoped that the party would discuss the matter at the party forum immediately.   
President Abdul Hamid yesterday formed the six-member search committee after month-long talks with 31 registered political parties to form the new EC as the tenure of the present one ends next month.

 

AL keeps trust in president, BNP irked

Reacting to announcement of the search committee for the new EC by the Presidents House, the Awami League (AL) said that it had not proposed any name and had left it to the President choose persons for the panel. The BNP, on the other hand, expressed its frustration over formation of the search committee, saying it was like an AL-chosen panel. The reactions came immediately after announcement of the search committee by the Presidents Houseyesterday (Wednesday). It is the jurisdiction of the President to provide names for the search committee to reform the EC. The AL did not propose any name, said AL general secretary Obaidul Quader. The AL leader was talking to reporters after signing an agreement at a city hotel. It is the sole jurisdiction of the honourable President as to who he would nominate. We have not given any name and do not expect any person of our party to be included in the search committee, he said. On the other hand, speaking at a meeting at Dhaka Reporters Unity, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed his frustration over the search committee, saying his party is not only angry but also aggrieved. The AL wants to hold another January 5-like election through this committee They want to fish in troubled waters, he alleged. Fakhrul said there was a ray of hope when the President began talks with political parties on formation of the EC, but this hope has turned into disappointment, creating a serious uncertainty. He said it was the ALs search committee. The chairman of the Public Service Commission, comptroller and auditor general and the pro Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University, who have been accommodated in the search committee, were appointed by the present government. Referring to the reaction of the pro-VC of Chittagong University in a private TV channel, Fakhrul said it shows the nature of the search committee. The BNP leader said the President is an institution and his party expected a neutral decision from him as an opportunity was created to resolve the current political impasse. But he (President) did not accept it. Now we can understand what type of EC would be formed by this search committee. With this, the country is being pushed to an abyss, he observed. BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said he has nothing to say about the search committee, but hoped that the party would discuss the matter at the party forum immediately. President Abdul Hamid yesterday formed the six-member search committee after month-long talks with 31 registered political parties to form the new EC as the tenure of the present one ends next month.