The BNP yesterday urged President Abdul Hamid to constitute the Election Commission (EC) on the basis of a consensus among all political parties. During an hour-long meeting with the president at Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, an 11-member delegation of the party, led by its chairperson Khaleda Zia, also proposed to form a five-member search committee, headed by a former chief justice, to form the next EC. The proposals were based on 13-point charter of recommendations placed by the BNP chief last month.
“Formation of the EC on the basis of a consensus among all political parties is our main recommendation,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while briefing reporters at the party’s central office in the evening after the talks with the president.
We also stressed the need for strengthening the EC through amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), he said.
Asked whether the BNP has given specific names for the search committee, he parried the answer saying that party chairperson Khaleda Zia, who led the delegation, gave specific proposal to the president on proposed search committee.
Meeting sources, however, said the former premier handed over a list of 10 distinguished and non-political persons for the proposed five-member search committee.  The list includes two former chief justices to select the chief of the committee, while names of two former justices of the Appellate Division, two educationists, two women and two civil society members were given to pick the

four other members of the committee.   
BNP leaders declined to disclose the proposed names saying that the meeting agreed not to disclose it at this moment.
According to the BNP proposal, all political parties, which have or had representation in parliament since independence, will hold separate meetings with the president and each party will make a specific written proposal for the appointment of the members of the search committee, and recommend two specific names and their details for each post.
The BNP delegation reached Bangabhaban around 4:30pm and the talks continued till 5:35pm, according to a Bangabhaban source.
Terming the dialogue fruitful, Fakhrul said the president would take due steps to overcome the ‘current political impasse’.
He said they gave a summery of the party’s 13-point proposal along with a copy of its full text.
Justifying the logic behind the BNP proposal, he said since there is no law with regards to the constitution of the EC, there is no alternative but to do it by building a consensus among the political parties. “We also explained the president over the methods to constitute the EC. The president assured us that he would examine the methods,” he said. The BNP leader hoped that after completion of the dialogues with the political parties, a next round of talks with the president is likely to be held to constitute the EC.
The president, meanwhile, appreciated the BNP proposals and said those would help form a credible EC. The current EC is set to complete its tenure in early February. Quoting the president, Fakhrul said in a democratic state there is no alternative to dialogues to resolve any crisis.
Quoting the President, the BNP secretary general said that in a democratic state there is no alternative to dialogue to resolve any problem.
“Today’s discussion is very important for democracy. Discussion shows multidimensional path towards resolution,” the president said in a press statement issued from Bangabhaban hours after talks with the BNP.
During the hour-long meeting, the president also sought cooperation from different political parties to make the efforts a success, said the statement. Sampad Barua, secretary of the president’s office, Maj Gen Sarwar Hossain, military secretary to the president, and his press secretary Joynal Abedin were also present during the talks.
Earlier, in her four-page written submission, Khaleda also highlighted her party's proposal to strengthen the EC and amend the RPO.
She also thanked the president for inviting her party for the discussion and wished a success of the president's initiative to form the new EC.
The former premier, however, said formation of a neutral EC based on consensus is not enough to hold an inclusive, acceptable and credible election in the wake of the prevailing situation.
“A neutral election-time government is needed to help the EC hold a free, fair and acceptable general election,” she said adding, “Her party would present an outline of a neutral election-time government.” Khaleda also said that her party would extend all-out cooperation to the president in forming the new EC.
The other members of BNP delegation include secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members--Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mahbubur Rahman, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
Two standing committee members--Toriqul Islam and Mirza Abbas -- who were included in the delegation list, were absent from the talks. Toriqul is sick while Abbas is now visiting Malaysia, according to a party source.
The President's dialogue with registered political parties on the reconstitution of Election Commission began with the discussion with the BNP. As part of his initiative, the president will also hold talks with Jatiya Party (Ershad) tomorrow, Liberal Democratic Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League on Wednesday and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) on Thursday. He will also hold meetings with other political parties, including ruling Awami League, in phases.
According to Article 118 of the constitution, the EC would be consisted of the Chief Election Commissioner and not more than four Election Commissioners and the President would appoint them.  Late President Zillur Rahman had formed the current EC led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties.