“In order to achieve that dream, we hope a neutral and capable Election Commission will be constituted through the search committee,” he said at a convention on Saturday.
“His Excellency (President Md Abdul Hamid) is yet to announce the search committee. We do not want to make any comment now but we do hope that something positive will come up as the president has always been the kind to fight for democracy.”
The conference held at the Institution of Engineers-Bangladesh auditorium was attended by professors, engineers, and law practitioners from all across the country.
The current Election Commission led by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad will complete its term in early February.
President Hamid has consulted 31 political parties prior to form a search panel to recommend new election commissioners.
On the first day of discussions at the president’s official residence Bangabhaban, BNP put forward 13 points.
Speaking on Saturday, BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul came down hard on the outgoing CEC.
“The CEC claims that his commission has been successful. Uncontested victory of 153 candidates in Jan 5, 2014 polls – is it an indication of success?
"He claimed 40 percent of the population had cast their votes but in reality, only five percent had done that.”
He frowned at the recent proposal of the ruling party to resume the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the 2019 general elections.
“When there is digital voting, votes are hijacked even from the United States. This means, they (ruling party) will do anything and everything to sustain their autocratic rule.”