Workers Party of Bangladesh (BWP) on Tuesday proposed to President Abdul Hamid enactment of a law early next year to guide the formation of an independent Election Commission for conduct of the next national election.
This was one of the main point contained in the six-point proposals a seven-member BWP delegation, led by its president Rashed Khan Menon, submitted to the president as part of a dialogue at Bangabhaban this afternoon.
The delegation thanked the President for initiating discussions with the political parties on the formation of a Election Commission as the current EC’s five-year term expires in February next year, according to Bangabhaban press wing.
Read:Rejected by some parties, president’s dialogue trudges on
The BWP leaders also suggested that the president exchange views with civil society representatives on the formation of the EC, the election watchdog.
They said the Election Commission should be independent capable of implementing the country’s electoral laws to ensure free and fair voting.
Welcoming the delegation of Workers Party at Bangabhaban, President Hamid said that politics is for the welfare of the people.
"If quality is not ensured in politics, it will be difficult for politicians to do politics in future. In this regard, the political parties have to build the right public opinion at the grassroots level," he said.
On Monday Hamid discussed with Khilafat Majlis formation of an acceptable Election Commission (EC). Khilafat Majlis’ eight-member team was led by its Secretary-General Dr Ahmed Abdul Quader.
Earlier yestreday, a seven-member delegation of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation led by Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari also sat in dialogue with the president.
Opening the current round of dialogue with the Jatiya Party, the main opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, on December 20 President Hamid has so far met with the leaders of six political parties.
Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) joined the dialogue on Sunday.
On the other hand, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), invited to Bangabhaban on Sunday last, declined the invite.
Read:Talks on EC: Tarikat urges President to sit with civil society too
According to Bangabhaban press wing, the other parties invited for the dialogue are Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Islami Oikya Jote on December 29, Gano Forum and Bikalpo Dhara on January 2, Ganotantri Party and Communist Party of Bangladesh on January 3.
The country has now 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament.
The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.