BNP doubts president will form neutral EC
The BNP yesterday expressed doubts about the President forming the Election Commission (EC) in line with the hopes and aspirations of the people. Neutrality was not maintained in forming the search committee to constitute the EC. People have started saying that the EC will be formed as per the wish of the Prime Minister, said the BNP secretary-general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while speaking at a function at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). The BNP leader, however, expects that the President will take into consideration what people want.
His (Presidents) name will be written in golden letters if he forms the EC in accordance with the wishes of the people. Otherwise, it will create a scandalous chapter in the nations history, he said. Mirza Alamgir alleged that uniformed people were controlling everything in the country. Uniformed people are running the country, not the Awami League, he said. The city unit of the Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) organised the meeting, demanding a neutral EC and election-time government.
The BNP secretary-general criticised the government for carrying out repression on political leaders and journalists. The intensity of oppression and harassment of political leaders, activists and journalists is much more under the present government, he alleged.
He said the AL government is directly involved in the search committee formed by the President. Despite this, we submitted names for the EC as we believe in democracy and want to see it consolidated, he added. He made it clear that along with a neutral EC, they want holding of the next general election under a neutral government. The BNP leader also criticised the President for not inviting all registered political parties during talks. This was not expected as the President is not the leader of a party, but the guardian of the state. The Jagpa president, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, general secretary Khandaker Lutfor Rahman and Dhaka city president Asadur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
