Reach consensus or face movement

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed yesterday warned that the party will go for a tougher movement if the government fails to reach a consensus through dialogues between the president and political parties on formation of new Election Commission.

“We have shown the way to reach a consensus for democracy. We will have no alternative but to conduct a tougher mass movement if the efforts go in vain,” Moudud told a programme at the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

He said BNP wants an acceptable search committee so that it can form a capable, competent and nonpartisan EC to hold the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.

“We believe that the president would give a fruitful resolution by forming an impartial search committee,” he added.

Meanwhile, expressing doubt over formation of a nonpartisan and acceptable new EC, BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed urged the government to hold dialogues among the political parties in this regard.

Addressing a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi said BNP hopes the government would follow the suggestion.

Criticising Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his Thursday's statement that there was no need to hold such dialogues, Rizvi said, “His statement will lead country's politics into a conflicting future.”

President Abdul Hamid on December 18 initiated holding dialogues and ended on January 18 after holding talks with 31 political parties.