BNP proposes to strengthen Election Commission in consensus commission meeting

Most parties, including BNP, have rejected the proposal to form a separate commission to redraw the boundaries of the consensus commission. BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that BNP is providing maximum support for the reforms. He proposed to strengthen the Election Commission by amending the law instead of a separate commission so that the elections are not delayed. He made this proposal on behalf of BNP in a meeting with the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Wednesday (July 2) morning.

After being adjourned for two days, the eighth day of the second phase of the National Consensus Commission meeting began at 11 am today. Representatives of various political parties including BNP, Jamaat, NCP joined the meeting under the chairmanship of National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz. At the beginning, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of the July uprising. The issues of delimitation of constituencies, caretaker government and presidential pardon were kept as topics of discussion. The delimitation of constituencies was discussed in the first phase of the day. Various parties have been seen taking opposing positions on the proposal of the consensus commission to form a separate commission to demarcate the boundaries. Jamaat has expressed its position in favor of forming a separate commission to demarcate the boundaries. The party’s assistant secretary general Hamidur Rahman Azad said that it would be better to have a temporary commission to avoid questions about the impartiality of demarcation. However, Jamaat also has its own opinion in the committee in the interest of consensus.

Meanwhile, the vice-chairman of the consensus commission, Professor Ali Riaz, expressed hope that it would be possible to prepare a national charter by mid-July based on the consensus of all. Issues such as the appointment committee of constitutional and statutory institutions, the appointment of the president and the election process of the upper house were discussed for several days, but they are still unresolved. 52 sessions, including the first phase, have already been held to build consensus.