BNP yesterday urged the government to form the Election Commission (EC) through dialogue with opposition parties instead of making a search committee, reports UNB.
“The ongoing mockery in the name of search committee will have to be stopped. We know it very well what will be outcome of a search committee. We would like to say we can come to a decision to this end, if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina engages in talks with our leader Khaleda Zia and other opposition parties,” said BNP senior leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu.
He came up with the call while speaking at a human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club arranged by Swadhinata Forum, a pro-BNP platform, protesting the withdrawal of Ziaur Rahman’s Swadhinata Padak. The tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led Election Commission will expire in February next. Law Minister Anisul Huq recently hinted that a search committee will be formed to constitute the new Election Commission.
Dudu, a BNP vice chairman, said there is no alternative to ‘restoring’ democracy and holding a fair election to resolve the country’s problems and ensure people’s rights. “We’ve also no other way to restore mutual respect among political parties for the country’s betterment.”
He also called for a dialogue between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to resolve the country’s ‘political problem’.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday demanded a fresh election to make the country’s parliament truly representative one, claiming that the party never talked about midterm polls.
“We never wanted a mid-term election. We don’t accept this election (10th parliamentary polls) either. A fresh election is necessary to make parliament truly representative, and it will have to be held,” the BNP leader said reacting to Prime Minister’s recent comment in the USA that there is no question of holding mid-term polls.
Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa), a member of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the program at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).