President wraps up talks with political parties
President Abdul Hamid today held dialogue with three more political parties wrapping up the formal talks over the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC).
“The dialogue with all political parties ends for the time being,” President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told The Daily Star this evening.
He said that the president will take a decision on formation of a new EC after scrutinising the recommendations from the political parties.
Earlier, the president held dialogues with BNP, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Liberal Democratic Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League, Khelafat Andolon and others on the formation of the next EC.
The president initiated the formal talks with political parties about the EC formation through discussions with BNP on December 18 last year.
READ MORE: Formation of EC: President 'highly likely' to form search committee
He took the dialogue initiative as the tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February.
President hopes strong EC would be formed
President Abdul Hamid expressed the hope that formation of a strong and effective EC would be possible on the basis of the opinion and proposals of political parties, BSS adds.
"Political parties have given well-thought-out proposals and opinion about the formation of search committee and Election Commission during the talks with me," he said adding that it would be possible to form a strong and effective EC on the basis of their opinion and proposals.
The president made the remarks while talking to leaders of Bangladesh Islami Front (BIF), Zaker Party (ZP) and Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) who separately met him at Bangabhaban here today, President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters.
READ MORE:President hopeful, BNP happy
President Hamid urged all political parties to come forward with cooperative mentality to take the country's democratic journey ahead.
Call to form search committee
Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladesh Islami Front and Zaker Party separately met the president this afternoon at the Bangabhaban in Dhaka.
They proposed for forming a “neutral and acceptable” search committee to pick the EC members, party sources told our correspondent.