Dhaka – The BNP on Thursday said that if a neutral search committee is not constituted to form an impartial Election Commission, the people will never accept it.
“As the President’s dialogue with the political parties ended, we again expect that the he (President) will form a neutral EC through an impartial search committee in true sense which will be effective to conduct the election in a free and fair manner,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.He was while talking to reporters after placing wreath at the mazar of party founder later President Ziaur Rahman to mark his 81st birth anniversary yesterday.
Earlier, Khaleda Zia along with her senior colleagues and party rank and file paid homage to the departed soul of Zia by offering wreath at his mazar. She also offered fateha for the salvation of the departed soul of Zia.
The BNP said there would never be fruitful and effective democracy, if there is no discussion among the political parties. The President also made the same comments. That’s why we thank him (President), he added.
He said they believe in practicing positive politics and that’s why party chairperson Khaleda Zia placed a nice formula to form the EC through a positive politics.
Terming Zia as pioneer of multiparty democracy and dreamer of modern Bangladesh, he said they went to his mazar to take sworn to uphold his ideal, political philosophy, Bangladeshi nationalism and to continue the movement to protect the independence, sovereignty and restore democracy.
He thanked the President for his call about discussion among the political parties and said democracy cannot be fruitful with dialogue and discussions among the political parties.
“We have talked about dialogue and discussions long ago and the President has also indicated that,” he claimed.
Alamgir said the people had rejected the one party rule after 1975 but the ruling Awami League wants to establish the same in a new and different manner by snatching the democratic rights, freedom of express and rights to hold rallies.
BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, among others, were present on the occasion.
Earlier on Wednesday the BNP secretary general expressed his suspicion any deceptive tactics might be adopted in the name of formation of the EC through search committee.
The BNP and its associate organizations have observed the day through various programmes including discussion meetings and organsing free medical camp and medicine distribution.
Ziaur Rahman had played in important role during the war of liberation as sector commender and head of Z force. He was born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogra. He founded BNP in 1978 and become the7th president of Bangladesh on November 7 in 1975.
Zia was killed by a group of misguided army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30 in 1981. – Staff Reporter
