Staff Reporter :
Ruling Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday brushed aside any possibility of dialogue with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over reconstitution of Election Commission.
Speaking at a press conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat, Obaidul, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said, there is no need to hold any dialogue on the issue. “I don’t think any dialogue is necessary right now.”
The tenure of the incumbent Election Commissioners is set to expire in mid February next year.
“But, we will hold dialogue with them (BNP) if it becomes a national issue,” he said while replying to a follow-up query on the matter.
As for the EC reconstitution, the minister told the press conference that the constitution stipulates the Election Commission shall be formed through a search committee.
“There shall an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of a Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any as the President may from time to time direct, and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election commissioners (if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President,” reads article 118(1) of the Constitution.
Asked whether the AL will take any initiative to bring the BNP into the next election, Obaidul Quader said, “BNP will come to the election and in a proper manner. It will not repeat its past mistakes. If they don’t come, things will go on as usual. Don’t they have any wish to rule the country? Many of them are spending sleepless nights. There is pressure from the youth and other pressure as well.”
“The new Election Commission will be formed as per the constitution under the president’s guidance like it was formed in 2012. We have nothing to do with it. And we won’t have any issue with it and hoping BNP won’t have either,” he said.
BNP and different civic groups have been urging the ruling AL to consult all political parties to forge a national consensus to reconstitute an acceptable Election Commission.
