President hopeful, BNP happy

President Abdul Hamid yesterday said the formation of a strong Election Commission would be possible through talks with political parties.

He expressed this hope while inaugurating a dialogue process through a discussion with the BNP for the formation of the next EC which will oversee the 2019 general elections.

“I think today's discussion and your well-thought-out opinions will play an important role in the formation of a strong Election Commission," he told an 11-member BNP delegation led by party chief Khaleda Zia.

The president said any dialogue opens up multiple paths to resolving a problem. 

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia handed the president her party's proposals which include forming a search committee to pick the EC members, bringing amendment to the Representation of the People Order and strengthening the EC.

She proposed that a former chief justice could be the convener of the search committee, while former Appellate Division judges, a neutral and honest professor of a university or a respected and distinguished personality and a neutral, honest and competent senior female citizen might be considered for the membership of the search committee.

Khaleda gave the president a sealed envelope containing the names of 10 prospective members of the search committee.

The names could not be known despite contacting majority of the delegation members. They said they didn't know who are on the list. 

With a call for cooperation from different political parties to form a strong EC, the president told the BNP delegation, "I believe your proposals will play positive roles in forming the next Election Commission."

Later in a briefing, BNP said the president told the delegation that he would examine procedural issues for forming a search committee by next month and another scope for talks over the EC formation might be created. 

During the talks, Khaleda said if the EC can be constituted on the basis of consensus among all political parties, it will be considered a right step towards the advancement of the country.

She also pointed out the need for formation of a polls-time government.

“Unfortunately, questionable roles of the Election Commission in the last two national elections and local body polls for the last several years frustrated people at home and abroad and made them lose confidence in our electoral system,” she said.

Khaleda observed that it has become necessary to devise a permanent system through talks for holding the national elections -- under a polls-time neutral government and overseen by an EC acceptable to all. 

In her written statement, the BNP chief thanked the president for inviting the party to the discussion and wished him success in his initiative regarding the EC formation.

Holding talks with the BNP, the president initiated dialogues with registered political parties over the EC formation. The tenure of current EC led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad will expire in February next year. 

BNP HAPPY

“We are happy and hopeful after today's [yesterday's] meeting with the president,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir later said.

“We're very optimistic that the president as the guardian of the country will play a proper role in resolving the country's political crisis.”

The president has long been involved in politics and he is respected by all, Fakhrul said at a briefing, held at the party's Nayapaltan central office immediately after the talks.

He added the BNP chief gave the president specific opinions about the formation of a search committee.

She also pledged that her party would extend all-out cooperation to the president in forming the new EC.

POLLS-TIME GOVT

In her written proposals, Khaleda said only constituting a neutral Election Commission on the basis of consensus is not enough to hold a free, fair, participatory and credible election.

A free and fair election cannot be ensured without all-out administrative and logistic support of the government and assistance of law enforcement agencies and the security forces.

“Without a neutral election-time government, such co-operation cannot be ensured and it is not possible to hold a free, fair and credible election. We shall provide the framework of a neutral election time government before the nation at a convenient time.”

HUMOUR AT BANGABHABAN

The meeting started at 4:37pm at the Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban and ended at 5:35pm.

When the BNP delegation entered the Bangabhaban, the president asked the BNP chairperson, “How are you doing?”

In reply, Khaleda said, “I'm alright.”

After the delegation members took their seats, Abdul Hamid approached each of them and exchanged greetings.

He asked Abdul Moyeen Khan, “How are you Natin Jamai [grandson-in-law]?”

The president then asked Moudud Ahmed, “How are you doing, senior?”

“I am fine,” replied the BNP leader, who is a senior lawyer at the Supreme Court. 

Then president took his seat and told Khaleda that Moyeen Khan is his Natin Jamai. In reply, Khaleda said, “Really? I did not know that.”

Abdul Hamid made queries about Khaleda's health.

Hamid told her, “When you and I were in parliament, we could see each other. But now I am away from parliament.”

Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain asked president, “How do you like it in the Bangabhaban?”

In reply, Hamid said quoting former president Abu Sayeed Choudhury, “I am a very costly prisoner.”

At this point, Moudud said, “You are getting younger day by day.”

After the meeting, BNP delegation was entertained with fish finger, chicken patties, juice, cashew nut, sandwich and sandesh.

President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.