Dhaka – BNP on Tuesday submitted its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s 13-point proposal on constituting a stronger Election Commission (EC) to Bangabhaban for President Abdul Hamid’s consideration.
A two-member BNP delegation, comprising party vice-chairman Ruhul Alam Chowdhury and its senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, took a copy of Khaleda’s proposals and a letter of the party seeking the President’s appointment to the presidential place around 11am. UNB news agency reported. Brig Gen Mainur Rahman, assistant military secretary to the President, received the proposal paper and the letter on behalf of the President who left here for Singapore around 10:30 am for his medical checkup there.
President’s assistant press secretary Mahmudul Hasan told UNB.“The BNP delegation handed over a printed copy of their party’s proposals on Election Commission formation and a letter signed by the party secretary general to the President’s assistant military secretary.”
He said Mainur Rahman told the BNP team that President Abdul Hamid will hold dialogue gradually with political parties on the EC formation after his return from Singapore.
The President is likely to return home on December 11.
Emerging from Bangabhaban, Rizvi said they have submitted their chairperson’s proposal and a letter to Mainur Rahman to hand those over to the President.
He said their party hopes that the President as the guardian of the state will take effective steps to form an acceptable EC as per hopes and aspirations of people.
Asked as to why they came to Bangabhaban despite knowing that the President is out of the country, Rizvi said they went there as per the schedule given earlier by Bangabhaban officials.
Our Staff Reporter adds: The BNP has been assured that President Abdul Hamid will soon begin talks with political parties on reconstitution of Election Commission.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said this while talking to reporters at Bangabhaban gate after handing over chairperson Khaleda Zia’s proposal on reconstitution of the EC and a letter to the President seeking his appointment.
He quoted President’s assistant military secretary Moinur Rahman, who received the proposal and letter as saying, “The President has gone to Singapore this morning (Tuesday) for treatment. He will begins talks with political parties after his arrival on December 11,”
He however expressed his ignorence as to when the talks would take place.
Earlier a two-member party delegation led by Rizvi went to Bangabhaban at 11:15am.
Replying to a question, he said the party would decide its priority after having an appointment by the President for talks.
He hoped that the President as guardian of the state would take the initiiative to reconstitute the EC which tenure would end by February next.
The other member of the delegation was BNP vice chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury.
Earlier on November 18, Khaleda Zia placed her party’s 13-point proposal to reform the EC based on consensus of all political parties having representation in parliaments since the independence.
The tenure of current EC expires in February next. The new EC will conduct the next general election scheduled to be held in 2019.
On November 18, Khaleda Zia placed a 13-point proposal for forming the new EC and called for reconstituting the EC in consultation with representatives of all registered political parties or with representatives of all political parties who over different periods had representation in the national parliament.
On November 21, the BNP chairperson’s personal secretary Abdus Sattar had phoned the President’s military secretary seeking a schedule so that a party delegation can submit her proposals to the President.
Getting no response, a party on November 23 sent a formal letter to Bangabhaban seeking President Abdul Hamid’s appointment to submit the 13-point proposal.
As the party does not get any schedule to meet the President, it finally decided to reach the proposal to Bangabhaban.
Earlier, President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that Abdul Hamid will hold dialogue with all registered political parties to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC). “The dialogue will begin after December 16.”
However, a source at Bangabhaban said the dialogue will begin on December 18 with BNP. There are 40 registered political parties now in the country.
