Awami League ready to make law 'right now' on forming Election Commission

The Awami League has told President Md Abdul Hamid that it is prepared to make a law 'right away' on the constitution of Election Commission.

An Awami League delegation of 19 members, headed by party chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, went to the Bangabhaban on Wednesday to join the ongoing dialogue on forming the next EC.

The President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed the media on the meeting that lasted for one and a half hours at Darbar Hall.

Hasina presented her party's proposals at the meeting. The proposals included passing a suitable law or ordinance, right at the moment if possible, to appoint the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.

"Initiatives can be taken in light of direction in the Constitution from now on so that it will be possible to implement (the proposal) while forming the EC after the next one, if not in constituting the next one for lack of time," the party told the president.

The Section 118 (1) of the Constitution says: "There shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and not more than four Election Commissioners and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President."

The tenure of the current EC with Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad as the chief election commissioner is ending in February. As no law has yet been made to form the EC, the president has initiated the talks with the political parties to institute one much the same way the current one was formed.

The main opposition in Parliament, the Jatiya Party, is among the parties that have proposed the placement of a bill on forming the EC in current Parliament.

The BNP, which sits out of Parliament after the boycott of the 2014 parliamentary elections, and the Krishak-Shramik-Janata League have termed the current Parliament 'not representative of the public' while opposing the proposal.

Quoting the prime minister, Abedin said, "The government or the Awami League does not want elections to be called into question in the future."

"The president will appoint the chief election commissioner and election commissioners in whatever process he thinks suitable following the Constitution. The Awami League will fully support any just initiative by the president to re-constitute the Election Commission," Hasina added, according to Abedin.

The president's press secretary said the Awami League also proposed use of electronic voting machines in the next parliamentary polls to ensure transparency.

He said the president thanked the Awami League delegation for taking part in the dialogue.

Hamid emphasised proper law and order and cooperation of the political parties along with strengthening the EC for fair polls, Abedin said.

The president also hoped that it will be possible to build a strong EC with the cooperation of all political parties.

The Awami League delegation included General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Advisory Council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, HT Imam, Yusuf Hossain Humayun and Mohammad Jamir.

The others included Presidium members Mohammed Nasim, Matia Chowdhury, Sahara Khatun and Syed Ashraful Islam, Joint Secretaries General Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Law Affairs Secretary Abdul Matin Khosru, Publication Secretary Hasan Mahmud and Law Minister Anisul Huq.

The BNP was the first political party to sit with the president on Dec 18 in the

talks.

The president has so far met 23 of the 40 political parties registered with the EC in four rounds.

He will also sit with some more parties in the fifth round, the Bangabhaban has said.