President to hold talks with AL today
President Abdul Hamid will hold dialogue with ruling Awami League (AL) on Wednesday as part of his move to take opinion of registered political parties over formation of a new Election Commission (EC).
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to lead the party`s 19-member delegation in the talks to be held at the Darbal Hall of Bangabhaban at 4pm, President`s press secretary Joynal Abedin said on Tuesday.
The other delegation members: General secretary Obaidul Quader, advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, AMA Muhith, HT Imam, Yusuf Hossain Humayun and Mohammad Zamir, presidium members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Matia Chowdhury, Sahara Khatun and Syed Ashraful Islam, joint general secretaries Dr Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, legal affairs secretary Abdul Matin Khasru, publicity and publication secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud and law minister Anisul Huq.
Abdul Hamid initiated formal talks with political parties for formation of the new EC as the tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February.
The President is likely to wrap up his ongoing talks with political parties through holding the meeting with AL on Wednesday.
Since he held his first talks with BNP on December 18 last year, the President has had meetings with 22 political parties.
During the talks, BNP put forward a set of proposals for the formation of a search committee and the new EC. It also placed proposal to strengthen the EC and amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
Jatiya Party (Ershad) gave a five-point proposal over constitution of the next EC and proposed making a law regarding constitution of the new EC.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) laid emphasis on solving the problem through discussion and said it is not possible to solve the problem through enactment of a law. Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) proposed formation of a neutral and strong EC and inclusion of woman representatives in the new commission.
Workers Party placed an eight-point proposal over the formation of a search committee and the EC. It also proposed including two women in the EC and formulating a law for the appointment of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) placed a five-point proposal, including one for appointing election commissioners in phases to maintain continuity of the EC.
Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) placed an eight-point proposal and proposed formation of the EC with eight members instead of existing five members, and a search committee comprising qualified and neutral individuals.
Jatiya Party (Manju) proposed appointing election commissioners in phases to maintain continuity of the EC.
Bangladesh Tarikat Federation (BTF) placed a 17-point proposal and proposed forming a search committee and the EC with the people having belief in the spirit of Liberation War. It also proposed enactment of a law as per the constitution to appoint election commissioners. Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) placed a five-point proposal for formation of a search committee and the new EC.
Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (BSD) proposed formation of a constitutional council comprising Prime Minister, Speaker, Chief Justice, Opposition Leader and Attorney General for proposing names of election commissioners to the President for the constitution of a new EC.
National Awami Party (NAP) put forward a 7-point proposal and proposed making a law as well as regulations for formation of the EC.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) placed a seven-point proposal and proposed enacting a law as per the constitution to appoint chief election commissioner and other commissioners without depending on the discussion with political parties.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) placed a three-point proposal, including enactment of a law as a permanent solution to formation of EC.
Gano Forum placed a nine-point proposal while Ganotontri Party and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan (BKA) put forward an eight-point proposal each for formation of a new EC. Gano Forum also proposed enacting a law as per the constitution to appoint election commissioners and ensure financial freedom of the EC.
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) placed a three-point proposal and Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) put forward a 7-point proposal for formation of new EC.
Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) placed a five-point proposal for over the formation of a search committee and the new EC. Its proposals include enacting a law as per the constitution to appoint election commissioners, constituting a nine-member EC instead of existing five members.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Ambia) put forward a five-point proposal over the formation of a search committee and the new EC. Its proposals include forming a search committee with the heads of constitutional organizations and former Chief Election Commissioners.
Source: BSS
