talks with President today on next EC

BNP to propose search body

In line with the party’s 13-point proposal, the BNP, during talks with President Abdul Hamid today, will propose formation of a five-member search committee, based on consensus, to choose members of the new Election Commission (EC), according to party leaders. The party is ready to provide names of some distinguished and non-partisan persons for the proposed search committee, if the President so desires, said the leaders. The names the BNP is likely to propose are those of former chief justice Mahmudul Amin Choudhury, former chief justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury, former chief justice Syed Jillur Rahim Mudasser Husain, former chief justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim and former Cabinet secretary Sadat Hossain, said the leaders. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the 13-point proposal, mooted by the party chairperson, will be the basis of her party’s dialogue with the President. Replying to a question, he said they would provide whatever assistance is necessary if the President requires it. A 13-member BNP delegation, led by its chairperson Khaleda Zia, will go to Bangabhaban on Sunday afternoon for the talks with the President.
The former Premier will first go to the party headquarters at Naya Paltan and then she, along with her party colleagues, is expected to leave for Bangabhaban at 4:00pm. The talks between the BNP delegation and the President are scheduled to begin at 4:30pm.
With this, the President’s initiative to constitute the new EC through talks with political parties will formally begin. The tenure of the present EC ends in February.
The BNP earlier sent a list of the 10-member delegation, headed by Khaleda Zia, to Bangabhaban as it had fixed the number of delegates. On being requested by the BNP, the President’s Office included three more names to the delegation. The other members of the delegation are secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Toriqul Islam, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Lt. Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The President’s press secretary, Joynal Abedin, confirmed that the President’s Office included three more members in the BNP delegation. They are Toriqul Islam, Mirza Abbas and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah.
Earlier, the BNP chairperson prepared the groundwork for the dialogue in a series of meetings with senior party leaders. The party leaders have also prepared a summary of Khaleda’s proposals to be discussed with the President. The third of the 13-point set of BNP proposals says the President would constitute a search committee on the basis of consensus among all registered political parties of Bangladesh, and or, among all political parties who over different periods had representation in the national Parliament since the Liberation of Bangladesh.
The President will constitute a search committee consisting of five honest, impartial, experienced, wise and widely respected persons possessing high moral standard and strong will, says the proposal. Party leaders said the success of the dialogue would depend on the sincerity of the President and the government to constitute the EC based on consensus.
“The President has taken the initiative for dialogue with the political parties in line with the BNP’s proposal,” said BNP standing committee member, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
He said the initiative would be successful if the President and the government are sincere; otherwise, it will turn into a show. The leader, however, said they believe that the President would carry out his initiative with sincerely to resolve the problem. On November 18, Khaleda had placed the 13-point proposal for forming the new EC and called for constituting the EC in consultation with representatives of all registered political parties that have had representation in Parliament since Independence. The BNP had submitted Khaleda’s proposals to Bangabhaban for the President’s consideration on December 6.
The President is also slated to meet delegates of the Jatiya Party on Tuesday, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Krishak Shramik Janata League on Wednesday, and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Party-Inu on Thursday. He will hold meetings with other political parties, including the ruling Awami League, in phases.
The BNP is likely to propose to the President to enact a law on formation of the EC, said the BNP leaders. 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. However, there is no law in regards to the appointment of the CEC and other members of the commission. Late President Zillur Rahman had formed the current EC led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties.

 

talks with President today on next EC

BNP to propose search body

In line with the partys 13-point proposal, the BNP, during talks with President Abdul Hamid today, will propose formation of a five-member search committee, based on consensus, to choose members of the new Election Commission (EC), according to party leaders. The party is ready to provide names of some distinguished and non-partisan persons for the proposed search committee, if the President so desires, said the leaders. The names the BNP is likely to propose are those of former chief justice Mahmudul Amin Choudhury, former chief justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury, former chief justice Syed Jillur Rahim Mudasser Husain, former chief justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim and former Cabinet secretary Sadat Hossain, said the leaders. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the 13-point proposal, mooted by the party chairperson, will be the basis of her partys dialogue with the President. Replying to a question, he said they would provide whatever assistance is necessary if the President requires it. A 13-member BNP delegation, led by its chairperson Khaleda Zia, will go to Bangabhaban on Sunday afternoon for the talks with the President. The former Premier will first go to the party headquarters at Naya Paltan and then she, along with her party colleagues, is expected to leave for Bangabhaban at 4:00pm. The talks between the BNP delegation and the President are scheduled to begin at 4:30pm. With this, the Presidents initiative to constitute the new EC through talks with political parties will formally begin. The tenure of the present EC ends in February. The BNP earlier sent a list of the 10-member delegation, headed by Khaleda Zia, to Bangabhaban as it had fixed the number of delegates. On being requested by the BNP, the Presidents Office included three more names to the delegation. The other members of the delegation are secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Toriqul Islam, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Lt. Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The Presidents press secretary, Joynal Abedin, confirmed that the Presidents Office included three more members in the BNP delegation. They are Toriqul Islam, Mirza Abbas and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah. Earlier, the BNP chairperson prepared the groundwork for the dialogue in a series of meetings with senior party leaders. The party leaders have also prepared a summary of Khaledas proposals to be discussed with the President. The third of the 13-point set of BNP proposals says the President would constitute a search committee on the basis of consensus among all registered political parties of Bangladesh, and or, among all political parties who over different periods had representation in the national Parliament since the Liberation of Bangladesh. The President will constitute a search committee consisting of five honest, impartial, experienced, wise and widely respected persons possessing high moral standard and strong will, says the proposal. Party leaders said the success of the dialogue would depend on the sincerity of the President and the government to constitute the EC based on consensus. The President has taken the initiative for dialogue with the political parties in line with the BNPs proposal, said BNP standing committee member, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. He said the initiative would be successful if the President and the government are sincere; otherwise, it will turn into a show. The leader, however, said they believe that the President would carry out his initiative with sincerely to resolve the problem. On November 18, Khaleda had placed the 13-point proposal for forming the new EC and called for constituting the EC in consultation with representatives of all registered political parties that have had representation in Parliament since Independence. The BNP had submitted Khaledas proposals to Bangabhaban for the Presidents consideration on December 6. The President is also slated to meet delegates of the Jatiya Party on Tuesday, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Krishak Shramik Janata League on Wednesday, and the Jatiya Samajtantrik Party-Inu on Thursday. He will hold meetings with other political parties, including the ruling Awami League, in phases. The BNP is likely to propose to the President to enact a law on formation of the EC, said the BNP leaders. 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. However, there is no law in regards to the appointment of the CEC and other members of the commission. Late President Zillur Rahman had formed the current EC led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties.