BNP chief Khaleda renews call for consensus to form Election Commission

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in yet another Twitter message has renewed her call for constitution of the Election Commission on consensus of 'all' political parties through talks.

Her Twitter post in Bangla on Saturday sums up: "The proposal to form the EC through consensus is neither a proposal from the BNP only, nor an insignificant issue. It’s a proposal to safeguard people’s right to vote. So discussion is needed, not a partisan EC."

Khaleda on Nov 18 presented a 13-point proposal on the constitution of the EC and strengthening it ahead of the end of the tenure of the current one early next year. 

The former prime minister proposed the formation of a Search Committee through consensus involving 'all parties' - every registered political party or those elected to Parliament ever since independence - to constitute the new EC.

On the following day, she tweeted, "I’ve presented a plan for an effective EC. Talks on truly fair polls on this basis can be initiated. The government can also use this option."

Terming the current CEC a puppet of the Awami League government, the BNP chief in her proposal demanded that the 11th general election be held under the supervision of a 'neutral, polls-time government'.

The Awami League rejected her proposal, terming it ‘hollow’. The ruling party said there was no scope of turning away from the system following which the current EC was formed by the president in 2012 after dialogues with various political parties, including the BNP.