President Abdul Hamid on Monday urged all political parties to inspire people for holding fair and participatory poll.
“It is possible to arrange a fair and participatory polls, if political parties can inspire people in the field instead of sitting at home only. It’s not enough to express the goodwill only,” Press Secretary Joynal Abedin quoted the President as saying during the talks this evening.
Hamid held the talks with Khilafat Majlis (KM) at 6pm as a part of forming an acceptable Election Commission (EC).
Seeking the cooperation of all the political parties in this regard, the President said the EC formation is a constitutional obligation and the main objective of the dialogue is only to constitute an acceptable EC.
Hamid hoped that it would be possible to form an efficient, strong and the acceptable election commission on the basis of discussions with the political parties.
Hamid also called upon political parties to come forward to guide politics towards the right direction.
Khilafat Majlis Secretary-General Dr Ahmed Abdul Quader led an eight-member delegation in the discussion.
The political party placed a five-point proposal to the President, including enacting a timely law for the formation of the Election Commission, neutralizing and strengthening the EC and maintaining the electoral environment.
The Secretary General of Khelafat Majlis Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader led his delegation team where Senior Nayeb-e -Ameer Mowlana Zobaer Ahmed Chowdhury, Nayeb-e -Ameer Mowlana Shakhawat Hossain and Ahmed Ali Kashemi, and Joint secretary generals- Advocate Jahangir Hossain, Muhammad Muntasir Ali, Dr. Mustafizur Rahman Faisol and Professor Abdul Jalil also joined in the discussion.
Earlier, a seven-member delegation of BTF led by Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari sat in dialogue with the President at 4 pm.
President Hamid opened a talk with the Jatiya Party, the main opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, on December 20 while he held talks with six political parties to date.
Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) joined the dialogue at 4pm yesterday.
On the other hand, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), invited to Bangabhaban on Sunday last, declined the invite, the press secretary said.
According to Bangabhaban press wing Bangladesh Workers’ Party is scheduled to meet the President at 4pm on Tuesday.
The other parties invited for the dialogue are Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Islami Oikya Jote on December 29, Gano Forum and Bikalpo Dhara on January 2, Ganotantri Party and Communist Party of Bangladesh on January 3.
The country has now 39 registered political parties, 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), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.
Source: United News of Bangladesh