President Hamid calls for tolerance among political parties for fair elections

President Md Abdul Hamid has urged for tolerance of others' views among the political parties in order to have fair elections.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Jan 2017, 07:58 PM
Updated : 11 Jan 2017, 05:53 PM

The president made the call during a meeting with the Ganaforum at the Bangabhaban on Sunday as part of the ongoing dialogue with political parties on forming the next Election Commission.

The president also sat with the Ganatantri Party and Khelafat Andolan later in the day.

The President's Press secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters after the meetings: "The president said there is no alternative to developing a culture of tolerance among the political parties for fair elections."

"Cooperation of the political parties is a must for fair elections," Abedin quoted the president as saying.

Hamid emphasised consensus of all political parties alongside a strong EC for fair elections during the meeting with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) on Saturday.

He is holding the talks ahead of the end of the current EC's tenure in February.

The Ganaforum has placed a nine-point proposal on forming the next commission and the committee to shortlist the names of persons who can be appointed election commissioners.

The party's President Dr Kamal Hossain led a 14-member delegation at the Bangabhaban talks.

Their proposals include appointing an Appellate Division judge as the 'Search Committee' head. They also suggested keeping representatives of women, religious minorities and the media in the committee.

Abedin said the Ganaforum expressed hope that the president will take the right decision in the right time to constitute a strong EC.

Lawyer Kamal Hossain's party also emphasised making a law on the institution of the EC.

The Ganatantri Party, too, told the president that it wants a law on forming the EC through a constitutional council.

Its 14-member delegation, led by its President Arash Ali, emphasised forming the EC with people who believe in the spirit of Liberation War.

The Khelafat Andolan's chief Shah Ataullah Ibn Hafezzi led the party's 10-member delegation during the dialogue.

They also proposed making a law to appoint the election commissioners, Abedin said.