Ershad places five-point demand before president

The president, Abdul Hamid, on Tuesday expressed hope that his current dialogue with political parties would yield a guideline for reconstituting the Election Commission as Jatiya Party led by former president HM Ershad shared with him their views on the issue.

‘The discussion has created scopes to exchange views with the political parties which is very important . . . I hope this (dialogue) would come out a guideline for reconstituting the Election Commission,’ a Bangabhaban spokesman said quoting the president.

President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin said Abdul Hamid made the remarks during a discussion with an 18-member Jatiya Party (JaPa) delegation led by its chairman HM Ershad at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban this afternoon.

He said during the 80-minute meeting, Ershad presented a five-point proposal over constitution of the next EC while he also explained the party’s position for making a law regarding constitution of the new EC.

The president, he said, expressed hoped that the Jatiya Party’s proposals would play positive role in forming the next EC.

The Jatiya Party chief thanked the president for opening talks with political parties and said this initiative helped develop people’s confidence on the President.

‘Jatiya Party believes in dialogue, not in conflicts,’ the Bangabhaban spokesman quoted Ershad as saying.

He sought cooperation of all political parties to from the new EC.

The other members of delegation are- leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad, GM Quader, Ruhul Amin Howlader, Anisul Islam Mahmud, MA Sattar, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Fakhrul Imam, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Salma Islam, Delwar Hossain, SM Faisal Chisty, ATU Taj Rahman, Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Tajul Islam Chowdhury and Khaled Akhter.

Secretaries concerned to the President were present.

President Hamid initiated formal talks with the registered political parties over the formation of new EC. The President held his first talks with BNP on December 18.

The tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February next.

Source: New Age