EC talks: President’s schedule with AL Jan 11

President Abdul Hamid saves ruling Awami League for last on his agenda of discussing reformation of Election Commission with all political parties ahead of the next parliamentary polls.

In a fresh schedule laid out today, the president gave out meeting schedule with 11 more political parties – the last of it being allotted to ruling Awami League.

According to the invitation, the president will hold talks with Bangladesh National Awami Party on January 4 while the talks with Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal will be held on January 5.

Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab) are scheduled for the talks on January 7 while Democratic Party and Gono Forum on January 8.

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-BSD, JSD (Sharif Ambiya) and Islami Andolon Bangladesh are scheduled for the talks with the president on January 9.

Bangabhaban sources said, invitation letters have already been sent to the political parties.

After the proposal was laid out by BNP, the party that boycotted the last general election, the president gave out schedules for talks with political parties on Election Commission reformation.

The first party that got the opportunity of discussion with the president was BNP itself. Later, parliamentary opposition Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and others met the state chief.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) today called upon President Abdul Hamid to take effective measures to resolve obstacles on the way of holding a free, fair and acceptable election.

JP, a component of the ruling Awami League-led coalition government, also suggested the president to appoint chief election commissioner from expertise to act as CEC or election commissioners of the election commission.

A 16-member JP delegation led by its chairman Anwar Hossain Manju said this while holding talks with the president at Bangabhaban.