‘Place bill on EC formation in next JS session’
Rejecting the government's argument that there is not enough time to enact a law on forming the next Election Commission, Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) yesterday said the caretaker government bill was passed in parliament within one night in 1996.
While holding dialogue with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on the matter, the party called upon the president to instruct the government to place a bill on EC's formation in the next session of parliament in January.
"You [Abdul Hamid] will address the parliament in January, which will be the first session of next year. In the speech, you assure the nation that the law will be enacted in that session," Rashed Khan Menon, president of WPB, which is a part of the ruling-Awami League alliance, told reporters after the dialogue.
Pointing to Law Minister Anisul Huq's argument that the law cannot be enacted before expiration of the present EC on February 14 next year, Menon said it is very much possible, if the government wants it.
Menon said the president agreed with them, saying that enacting the law is a must.
"The president agreed that controversy arises every time during formation of the Election Commission, in absence of the law. This creates a lack of confidence in the EC," he said.
Criticising the present EC for failing to hold free and fair elections, Menon said the present EC is "inactive".
"They even termed the violent incidents during UP polls festive," he added.
"We want an EC that will be able to use its power vested on it. We want a powerful and independent EC that will control the administration to hold free and fair polls," Menon also said.
In its six-point proposal to the president, WPB also suggested that the president exchange views with civil society representatives, media personalities and intellectuals on EC's formation.
A seven-member delegation of WPB, led by Menon, joined the dialogue around 4:00pm.
According to a release issued by Bangabhaban, the president welcomed the delegation and said, "Politics is meant for people's welfare. If quality is not ensured in politics, it will be difficult for politicians to do politics in the future."
Starting the current round of dialogues with Jatiya Party, the main opposition party in parliament, on December 20, President Hamid has so far met leaders of six political parties.
Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Communist Party of Bangladesh have declined to participate in the dialogue. BNP yesterday said they will also not participate, even if it is invited.
The country has 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website, and only nine of them have representation in parliament.
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