The BNP yesterday decided to contest the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls scheduled for December 22 but opted against joining the upcoming ‘zila parishad’ polls as it thinks the  election system is contradictory to the constitution. The party has also decided to nominate its local leader Adv Taimur Alam Khandakar to run for the mayoral post in the NCC polls.  The decisions were taken at a meeting of the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, at its chairperson’s Gulshan office. Party chief Khaleda Zia chaired the  meeting that began around 9pm.
Emerging from the meeting, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul informed journalists about the party decisions. Fakhrul said the BNP standing committee also worked out a plan to stage countrywide demonstrations on November 21 protesting the issuance of warrant for the arrest of Khaleda Zia in a case filed against her for celebrating 'fake' birthday on National Mourning Day on August 15.
He said BNP leaders will stage demonstrations in all cities, district towns and thana levels protesting the arrest warrant. Meanwhile, the BNP chairperson is likely to  table her party’s proposal to reconstitute the Election Commission at a hotel in the capital today. Khaleda will make the announcement at a meeting of BNP think tank, civil society people, election experts, diplomats and media people. The proposal will include methods of forming the EC, its activities, attitude and power, BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said yesterday.
“We want to place the party proposal before the nation to ensure holding of an inclusive and credible election in the country,” he added.
The party is likely to propose formation of a search committee headed by a civil society leader and comprising members of political parties represented in the present and previous parliaments to reconstitute the EC, according to insiders. The party may also make recommendations to strengthen the poll panel and bring amendments to the Representation of People’s Order (RPO) so that no one can intervene in the EC’s jurisdiction during elections, the insiders said. A senior BNP leader said the party would make full efforts to form an independent and sovereign EC acceptable to all to hold the next polls in a free and fair manner. Also yesterday, a BNP standing committee meeting, chaired by Khaleda Zia, approved the party formula on the EC. The meeting, which was held at the party’s Gulshan office, also discussed the latest developments in the political arena.