Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is hopeful of a positive outcome to the talks with the President Abdul Hamid and the party is now optimistic about what it termed overcoming the country’s ‘political crisis’.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with these remarks in a press briefing at party central office at Nayapaltan in the city on Sunday evening after meeting over the formation of the new Election Commission (EC) with the President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
Earlier, an 11-member BNP delegation, led by its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, held talks with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Sunday afternoon. The
meeting that started at 4:37 pm at the Darbar Hall of the Presidential Palace ended at 5:35 pm.
During the talks BNP proposed names of four candidates for the search committee that will hunt for the next Election Commissioners.
“BNP is “hopeful” of a positive outcome to the discussion. As a guardian, the President’s initiative will be able to overcome the current political crisis,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
“We’re happy and optimistic after Sunday’s meeting with the President. We do believe that President has the complete wisdom and ability to solve the current political crisis. We have attached importance on reconstituting the EC in consultation with representatives of all registered political parties,” he further said.
He termed the President as a completely apolitical personality saying he (President) has long been involved in politics. “The President is also respected by all. We hope the initiative he has taken will play an effecting role in overcoming the country’s political crisis,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul said BNP hoped that the President will again call upon the political parties after formulating a guideline on reformation of EC following a round of discussion. “There is no alternative to talks and dialogues in a democratic system,” Fakhrul said.
“We stressed on three issues: an acceptable search committee, an acceptable Election Commission and necessary amendments to the Representation of the People’s Order,” Fakhrul said.
During the meeting, Fakhrul said their BNP Chairperson gave the President specific opinions about the formation of a search committee. The BNP delegation members also include Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Khandoker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
President Hamid initiated formal talks with political parties over the formation of the new EC with his first meeting with BNP first.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid welcomed BNP’s proposal for formation of search committee and the Election Commission saying discussions with political parties will play an important role in forming a strong EC.
“Election is very important in a democratic process. And the EC plays the main role in conducting elections. Sunday’s discussion is very important for democracy. I think Sunday’s discussion and your (BNP) well-thought out opinions will play an important role in forming a strong Election Commission,” Quoting the President, his Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told journalists after the meeting.
Abdul Hamid took the dialogue initiative as the tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February next. President Hamid said discussions and views-exchange open up multiple paths for solution to any problems.
“I believe your (BNP) proposals will play positive role in forming the next Election Commission,” the President was quoted as saying. During the hour-long meeting, Abdul Hamid sought cooperation from all political parties, including BNP, to form a strong EC.
At the meeting, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia presented BNP’s proposal for the formation of a search committee and the EC. She also highlighted party’s proposal to strengthen the EC and amendment to Representation of People Order (RPO).
The former Prime Minister thanked the President to invite BNP in the discussion and wished success of the President’s initiative to form the EC.
Khaleda Zia said her party would extend all-out cooperation to the President in forming the new EC.
Earlier on November 18, BNP Chairperson 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.
Later Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on December 3 said, “She [Khaleda] has made her proposal; now she can tell the President about it, and he would make the decision … we’ve nothing to say … according to the rules, the President will consider their proposal.”
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is hopeful of a positive outcome to the talks with the President Abdul Hamid and the party is now optimistic about what it termed overcoming the country’s ‘political crisis’.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with these remarks in a press briefing at party central office at Nayapaltan in the city on Sunday evening after meeting over the formation of the new Election Commission (EC) with the President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
Earlier, an 11-member BNP delegation, led by its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, held talks with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Sunday afternoon. The
meeting that started at 4:37 pm at the Darbar Hall of the Presidential Palace ended at 5:35 pm.
During the talks BNP proposed names of four candidates for the search committee that will hunt for the next Election Commissioners.
“BNP is “hopeful” of a positive outcome to the discussion. As a guardian, the President’s initiative will be able to overcome the current political crisis,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
“We’re happy and optimistic after Sunday’s meeting with the President. We do believe that President has the complete wisdom and ability to solve the current political crisis. We have attached importance on reconstituting the EC in consultation with representatives of all registered political parties,” he further said.
He termed the President as a completely apolitical personality saying he (President) has long been involved in politics. “The President is also respected by all. We hope the initiative he has taken will play an effecting role in overcoming the country’s political crisis,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul said BNP hoped that the President will again call upon the political parties after formulating a guideline on reformation of EC following a round of discussion. “There is no alternative to talks and dialogues in a democratic system,” Fakhrul said.
“We stressed on three issues: an acceptable search committee, an acceptable Election Commission and necessary amendments to the Representation of the People’s Order,” Fakhrul said.
During the meeting, Fakhrul said their BNP Chairperson gave the President specific opinions about the formation of a search committee. The BNP delegation members also include Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Khandoker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
President Hamid initiated formal talks with political parties over the formation of the new EC with his first meeting with BNP first.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid welcomed BNP’s proposal for formation of search committee and the Election Commission saying discussions with political parties will play an important role in forming a strong EC.
“Election is very important in a democratic process. And the EC plays the main role in conducting elections. Sunday’s discussion is very important for democracy. I think Sunday’s discussion and your (BNP) well-thought out opinions will play an important role in forming a strong Election Commission,” Quoting the President, his Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told journalists after the meeting.
Abdul Hamid took the dialogue initiative as the tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February next. President Hamid said discussions and views-exchange open up multiple paths for solution to any problems.
“I believe your (BNP) proposals will play positive role in forming the next Election Commission,” the President was quoted as saying. During the hour-long meeting, Abdul Hamid sought cooperation from all political parties, including BNP, to form a strong EC.
At the meeting, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia presented BNP’s proposal for the formation of a search committee and the EC. She also highlighted party’s proposal to strengthen the EC and amendment to Representation of People Order (RPO).
The former Prime Minister thanked the President to invite BNP in the discussion and wished success of the President’s initiative to form the EC.
Khaleda Zia said her party would extend all-out cooperation to the President in forming the new EC.
Earlier on November 18, BNP Chairperson 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.
Later Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on December 3 said, “She [Khaleda] has made her proposal; now she can tell the President about it, and he would make the decision … we’ve nothing to say … according to the rules, the President will consider their proposal.”
