BNP team meets EU envoys
The BNP leadership at a meeting with European Union envoys yesterday clarified its position on issues like reinstating the caretaker government system and reforming the Election Commission.
A BNP delegation led by acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met the EU diplomats at the Danish embassy in Dhaka and told them that people will not accept an election without a caretaker government and a neutral election commission, BNP sources present at the meeting said.
Former foreign secretary and BNP Vice Chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, party chief Khaleda Zia's advisers Sabihuddin Ahmed and Reaz Rahman, among others, were present during the talks.
Asked about the topic of discussion, Shamser Mobin said, “It was a courtesy call at the invitation of the Danish embassy. No political issues were discussed as it was not a formal meeting.”
A EU diplomat on condition of anonymity told The Daily Star that they met the BNP leaders as part of their regular dialogue with political parties.
Party insiders, however, said their leaders explained to the diplomats the necessity of the caretaker government system for a free and fair election.
They also told the envoys that the Election Commission should be reconstituted in consultation with all the political parties. Otherwise it won't win public trust, a meeting source told The Daily Star.
During the meeting, the BNP leaders also talked about the security of Khaleda Zia and the cases filed against her and her two sons.
On Election Commission's move to introduce electronic voting machine in the October 30 Narayanganj City Corporation polls, the BNP delegate told the diplomats that the system will create a scope for vote rigging, sources said.
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