bdnews24.com :
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has said he is ‘very happy’ with the outcome of the dialogue with the BNP, which is also ‘hopeful’ about an inclusive, free and fair parliamentary election.
“The BNP has joined the dialogue after a long time. Not only us, the nation was also waiting for it” CEC Nurul Huda told bdnews24.com after the talks with the BNP on Sunday.
“It was a successful dialogue. They have talked positively. They neither said anything negative nor brought any allegation.
“We are very happy to be able to hold the talks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the election observers are considering the BNP’s participation in the EC-sponsored dialogue with political parties as a ‘positive development’ in Bangladesh’s politics because the party had boycotted such initiative of previous commissions headed by ATM Shamsul Huda and Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.
The CEC ‘praised’ former military ruler BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and its current Chairperson Khaleda Zia for ‘bringing back multiparty democracy’ and for ‘being the first female prime minister of the country’ respectively.
CEC Huda, however, is not ready to consider it ‘praises for any individual or party’.
“I also mentioned some positive activities of HM Ershad’s regime when the Jatiya Party chairman came to the talks. When the BNP came, I spoke about some facts, historical developments,” he told bdnews24.com.
“The BNP was formed with many people from the right, left, and centre. Multiparty democracy was reestablished at the time. Many new agencies were formed, and developments happened. Similar things happened during Ershad’s regime,” he said.
The chief election commissioner expressed hope that the BNP will take part in the next parliamentary election as well.
“We’re cooperating sincerely. The BNP is also cooperating. We are hopeful about the BNP’s joining the next election,” he said.
A 16-strong BNP delegation led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the talks at the commission office in Agargaon with their chief Khaleda abroad.
The last parliamentary polls of 2014 were marred by the BNP-led alliance’s violent protest and boycott over the demand for a polls-time caretaker government. The party is out of parliament now but is often described as the ‘main opposition’ to the ruling Awami League.
The BNP has not agreed on constitutional changes that enable the partisan government to be in power during parliamentary election.
As the Awami League-led coalition is adamant on sticking to the changes, the BNP now demands an ‘election-time’ government that will facilitate the polls. It is yet to specify the structure and features of the proposed polls-time government.
Asked whether they were ‘satisfied’ with the talks, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters: “We don’t think there is much to hope for given the current situation created by the undemocratic behaviour of the government.”
On being asked by a journalist whether he was hopeful about a positive outcome of the EC dialogue, Fakhrul replied, “Of course, we are hopeful to some extent.”
Election observer Abdul Alim hailed the BNP’s participation in the talks as a ‘positive development’ in country’s politics.
The director of Election Working Group, a platform of 28 polls watchdogs, said, “The BNP has sent a high-level delegation to the talks. We must call it a very positive development in Bangladesh’s politics.”
He hoped the dialogue will bring success.
“The current EC still enjoys the confidence of the political parties. The door to a solution is opening. I hope all the parties will cooperate with the EC and it will work sincerely,” Alim said.
The EC dialogue with the political parties and civil society members ends with the final round of talks with the Awami League on Wednesday.
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has said he is ‘very happy’ with the outcome of the dialogue with the BNP, which is also ‘hopeful’ about an inclusive, free and fair parliamentary election.
“The BNP has joined the dialogue after a long time. Not only us, the nation was also waiting for it” CEC Nurul Huda told bdnews24.com after the talks with the BNP on Sunday.
“It was a successful dialogue. They have talked positively. They neither said anything negative nor brought any allegation.
“We are very happy to be able to hold the talks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the election observers are considering the BNP’s participation in the EC-sponsored dialogue with political parties as a ‘positive development’ in Bangladesh’s politics because the party had boycotted such initiative of previous commissions headed by ATM Shamsul Huda and Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.
The CEC ‘praised’ former military ruler BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and its current Chairperson Khaleda Zia for ‘bringing back multiparty democracy’ and for ‘being the first female prime minister of the country’ respectively.
CEC Huda, however, is not ready to consider it ‘praises for any individual or party’.
“I also mentioned some positive activities of HM Ershad’s regime when the Jatiya Party chairman came to the talks. When the BNP came, I spoke about some facts, historical developments,” he told bdnews24.com.
“The BNP was formed with many people from the right, left, and centre. Multiparty democracy was reestablished at the time. Many new agencies were formed, and developments happened. Similar things happened during Ershad’s regime,” he said.
The chief election commissioner expressed hope that the BNP will take part in the next parliamentary election as well.
“We’re cooperating sincerely. The BNP is also cooperating. We are hopeful about the BNP’s joining the next election,” he said.
A 16-strong BNP delegation led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the talks at the commission office in Agargaon with their chief Khaleda abroad.
The last parliamentary polls of 2014 were marred by the BNP-led alliance’s violent protest and boycott over the demand for a polls-time caretaker government. The party is out of parliament now but is often described as the ‘main opposition’ to the ruling Awami League.
The BNP has not agreed on constitutional changes that enable the partisan government to be in power during parliamentary election.
As the Awami League-led coalition is adamant on sticking to the changes, the BNP now demands an ‘election-time’ government that will facilitate the polls. It is yet to specify the structure and features of the proposed polls-time government.
Asked whether they were ‘satisfied’ with the talks, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters: “We don’t think there is much to hope for given the current situation created by the undemocratic behaviour of the government.”
On being asked by a journalist whether he was hopeful about a positive outcome of the EC dialogue, Fakhrul replied, “Of course, we are hopeful to some extent.”
Election observer Abdul Alim hailed the BNP’s participation in the talks as a ‘positive development’ in country’s politics.
The director of Election Working Group, a platform of 28 polls watchdogs, said, “The BNP has sent a high-level delegation to the talks. We must call it a very positive development in Bangladesh’s politics.”
He hoped the dialogue will bring success.
“The current EC still enjoys the confidence of the political parties. The door to a solution is opening. I hope all the parties will cooperate with the EC and it will work sincerely,” Alim said.
The EC dialogue with the political parties and civil society members ends with the final round of talks with the Awami League on Wednesday.
