President’s Dialogue: Starts today with JP; BNP undecided
The president's talks with registered political parties over the formation of the next Election Commission starts today, while BNP is still undecided about joining.
President Abdul Hamid is to sit with the Jatiya Party today, the first day of separate talks with each party, amid hopes of a stronger and impartial EC.
Due to alarming apathy among voters and distrust towards the EC, its formation is back under the spotlight with the national elections about two years away.
Hamid initiated the dialogue as the tenure of the current EC, under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, ends on February 14.
One of the major parties, BNP, is yet to clarify its position on whether or not it will join the talks.
A senior leader, wishing anonymity, said their party might not join as they think the new EC will be formed "as per the ruling party's wish".
He said that instead of joining the dialogue, they have a plan to send a letter to the president with their observations and recommendations regarding the reconstitution of the EC.
At the talks today, opposition of the parliament Jatiya Party will emphasise on enacting a law on the formation of the EC in line with the republic's constitution, said GM Quader, JP chairman and deputy leader of the opposition.
Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said they "don't see the necessity of a dialogue with the president."
"We had given our recommendations and suggestions at the last dialogue with president [in 2016]. He did not kept his words. He appointed an EC that conducted election the night before voting day.
"If he were sincere [about EC formation], he could have urged the parliament to make a law in line with constitution about EC formation instead of arranging such dialogues."
Khalequzzaman, general secretary of Socialist Party of Bangladesh, and Saiful Haq, general secretary of Revolutionary Workers Party, both said they were yet to decide if they would join the talks.
They added that they would finalise their decisions after consulting within their parties and with the Left Democratic Alliance.
Khalequzzaman said the president's office invited his party to join the dialogue on December 26.
He and Saiful both said they would urge Hamid to take steps to enact the EC formation law if they join the talks.
Selim and Saiful said they were yet to get invited.
President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said Hamid would sit with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) on December 22 and the National Awami Party on December 26.
Though over 49 years have passed since the constitution prescribed a specific law for appointing the CEC and other election commissioners, successive governments chose not to enact one.
Most other South Asian countries, however, have such laws.
As there is no specific law, the president in 2012 and 2016 had formed "search committees" to appoint the CEC and other commissioners, following discussions with registered political parties.
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