The Bangladesh Tariqat Federation (BTF) has urged President Md. Abdul Hamid to ensure participation of civil society representatives in addition to political parties to form the Election Commission.
The party also placed a four-point proposal to form an acceptable Election Commission without the inclusion of anyone who or his family opposed the 1971 Liberation War.
The BTF gave the proposal for the formation of an independent, neutral and acceptable Election Commission on the fourth day of the ongoing dialogue with President Md Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban on Monday evening, reports BSS.
After the dialogue, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said that Tariqat Federation's delegation led by its chairman Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, MP, placed a four-point proposal to the President for the formation of an independent, effective and acceptable EC.
A seven-member BTF delegation held talks with President for about an hour starting at 4:00 pm.
The BTF stressed enacting a specific, permanent and time-befitting law to constitute the Election Commission.
They also gave positive opinions on the formation of a search committee, by holding a dialogue with civil society representatives in addition to political parties to make the issue universally acceptable and beyond debate.
Maizbhandari further said the proposed search committee should include representation of civil society, including a representative of the media personality also.
Welcoming the BTF leaders in the talks at Bangabhaban, the president said the formation of an Election Commission is a constitutional obligation and "the prime object of the dialogue is only to form an acceptable Election Commission."
“It would be possible to form an efficient, strong and acceptable EC through holding effective discussions with the political parties in phases,” he added.
The head of state sought the full cooperation of all political parties in the EC formation process.
President Hamid has initiated the dialogue with political parties from December 20 to form the next election commission as the current commission’s five-year term will expire on February 14 next year.
The president will form a new commission, under which the 12th parliamentary elections will be held.
Earlier, a series of dialogues were held with the participation of political parties ahead of the ninth, tenth and eleventh parliamentary polls.
The President has the authority to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and up to four Election Commissioners.
In the last few terms, the President formed the Election Commission on the basis of the recommendations of the 'Search Committee'.