The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday held a meeting with the Election Commission to discuss the preparations underway for the coming national elections.
The electoral process and finalisation of voter lists, among other issues, were discussed at the meeting.聽
Following the meeting, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that they felt confident that the commission would be ready for holding the polls by May or June this year.
He also said that the party did not present any specific proposals to the Election Commission regarding the polls road map and would discuss the matter with the chief adviser in a meeting scheduled for today.
Nazrul Islam Khan, accompanied by standing committee members Selima Rahman and Salah Uddin Ahmed, led the party delegation at the meeting held at Agargaon Nribachan Bhaban in the capital.
About the Election Commission鈥檚 preparations, Nazrul remarked 鈥楪ood鈥�.
鈥榃e understand that they are doing what they are supposed to do according to the law,鈥� the BNP leader said.
He further said that the commission did not have the power to decide about the election schedule.
He explained that constitutionally, elections were supposed to be held within 90 days of a government鈥檚 stepping down, but the country at the moment was running in special circumstances.
He said that in this situation, the government, based on political consensus, would need to request the EC to hold elections.
The BNP leader said that if preparations were completed by May or June, national elections could be held soon after.
Recently, the Electoral Reform Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
The chief election commissioner opposed some of the proposals of the reform commission, saying that their implementation would certainly undermine the independence of the commission.
When reporters asked if the issue was discussed in the meeting, Nazrul Islam replied, 鈥業f we find that any reform commission proposals are obstructing the holding of fair elections, we will block it, just as the Election Commission would.鈥�
He said that the government would discuss the reform commission recommendations with stakeholders, and if their decisions led to changes in laws or regulations, the EC would have to accept them.
On behalf of the Election Commission the meeting was led by chief election commissioner AMM聽 Nasir Uddin, accompanied by its commissioners, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Begum Tahmida Ahmad, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker and retired brigadier general Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah and EC secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
EC secretary Akhtar Ahmed told 抖阴精品 that the BNP discussed about the preparation of elections, including progress of preparing the voter list.
The party did not make any specific proposals to the EC at the meeting, he added.
