BNP for EC’s steps to withdraw cases against Khaleda, others

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday said the Election Commission has to initiate effective steps for withdrawal of cases filed against the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, and other leaders during the military-governed interim government of 2007.

Besides, it has to take initiative to immediately withdraw cases filed against BNP leaders and activists to harass them since the incumbent government came in power, and to release all detained political leaders and activists unconditionally, the party said.

The BNP placed a set of 20-point proposals while joining a 2.35-hour-long meeting with the Election Commission headed by chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the proposals while briefing reporters after the talks at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city that began around 11:00am.

Fakhrul led a delegation of BNP leaders who sat in the dialogue with the Election Commission to discuss about holding the next general election in free and fair manner.

The BNP leader said they placed another demand that the Election Commission has to ensure the rights of all political parties for holding their normal and democratic activities including rallies in a bid to create level-playing field since now.

The other proposals include holding the next general election under conducive government, dissolution of parliament, and deployment of defence forces with magistracy power at least one week before the election.

He reiterated the Election Commission has to initiate steps for effective dialogue among political parties and the government.

Other members of the delegation included standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Tariqul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Mia, Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP chairperson's advisory council members ASM Abdul Halim, Ismail Jobiullah and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

The EC’s dialogues with the stakeholders including 40 registered political parties began on August 24, apparently to elicit their views regarding the preparations for the next general election due on January 22, 2019, at the latest.

On July 31, the commission held the first dialogue with 40 civil society members over the next general election.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net