President's talk with political parties

We welcome the news that the Hon'able President will be holding dialogues with the political parties on the formation of a new election commission on his return from Singapore. The PM had also alluded to it recently during a press conference. In this regard we recall a similar exercise by late President Zillur Rahman that unfortunately did not produce any result. 

The point that must be emphasised here is that although it is for the President to appoint the EC, he can only do so on the advice of the PM. The President can go only as far as the Prime Minister would want him to.It would therefore be our expectation that the PM would allow a wide mandate to the President that would enable him to broker a deal and reach a modus vivendi in appointing an EC that would be acceptable to all.  

It would not be out of place to mention that for a greater part of its existence of nearly seven decades, the AL had been in the opposition, struggling on behalf of the people for democratic and political rights. Therefore, we feel, there cannot be any party in a better position than the AL to understand the travails of the opposition. 

In this regard too we would like to put our faith and confidence in the lifelong experience of the Hon'able President, much of which was spent also on the opposition bench. And, given the sagacity he displayed during his tenure as the Speaker of the Parliament, we feel he is eminently endowed to give the country an equitable solution.  

It should not be lost upon anybody that the nub of the problem is to have an EC that would be acceptable to all.