Joining the ongoing dialogue with President Abdul Hamid over the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) on Wednesday presented a 3-point proposal, including formation of the EC through a search committee and an election-time government led by the Prime Minister.
A seven-member delegation, led by BNF President SM Abul Kalam Azad, took part in a dialogue with President Abdul Hamid at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban in the afternoon.
Welcoming the delegation to Bangabhaban, the President said the opinions of political parties are very important for the formation of an acceptable Election Commission, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.
“It’s necessary to evaluate the sacrifices of the leaders and workers and the principles and ideals of the party without giving priority to financial issues in politics in the interest of democracy,” said the President during the discussion.
He said that democracy should not be limited to only elections but it should also be spread through continuous practice.
The President called upon the political parties to take initiatives to motivate people in this regard.
The BNF delegation thanked the President for initiating discussions with the political parties on the EC formation.
On Tuesday a seven-member delegation, led by Rashed Khan Menon, President of Worker’s Party of Bangladesh took part in discussions with President Hamid.
The President held talks with Khilafat Majlis (KM) as part of forming an acceptable EC on December 27. Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, led by Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari, also sat in dialogue with the President at 4 pm on the same day.
President Hamid opened a talk with the Jatiya Party, the main opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, on December 20.
According to Bangabhaban press wing, the other parties invited for the dialogue are Gonoforum and Bikalpo Dhara on January 2, Ganotantri Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon on January 3 and Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal and Islami Andolon Bangladesh on January 4.
Now there are only 39 registered political parties in Bangladesh, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament.
The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.
Source: United News of Bangladesh