LDP urges President to restore CG system before formation of new EC

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Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Tuesday urged President M Zillur Rahman to take steps to restore the Caretaker Government (CG) system by cancelling the 15th amendment of Constitution prior to the formation of a new Election Commission (EC), reports UNB. "We told the President that it is essential to restore the caretaker government system before the formation of a new Election Commission to strengthen the country's democracy," LDP president Col (retd) Oli Ahmed told reporters at Bangabhaban after taking part in a dialogue with the President. A nine-member LDP delegation, led by Oli Ahmed, held discussion with the President and placed a 12-point demand before him. Mr Ahmed said they have also requested the President to take measures to ensure human rights in the country, putting an end to secret and political killings as well as halting harassment and oppression of, and new cases against opposition leaders and activists. He also urged the President to formulate necessary rules on appointing people to the Election Commission, Anti-corruption Commission and Public Service Commission as well as Judges in the High Court by forming a strong commission to ensure transparency, accountability and acceptability to all political parties and people. The LDP delegation included Jahanara Begum, Redwan Ahmed, Syed Didar Bakht, Mahmudur Rahman, Kamal Uddin Mostafa, Zainal Abedin Jehadi, Jamirul Akter and Shahadat Hossain Selim. Meanwhile, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Tuesday called for holding two more parliamentary elections under the caretaker government system as per the direction of the Supreme Court. "It will be good if another two terms of (parliamentary) elections are held under caretaker government according to the direction of the Supreme Court," CPB general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim told reporters at Bangabhaban after taking part in a dialogue with the President. A 12-member CPB delegation including its chairman Manjurul Ahsan Khan joined the dialogue. CPB General Secretary said the system of caretaker government was introduced in the country as people lost their confidence over holding of neutral elections due to various reasons. "It's also essential to put a stop to muscle power, use of black money and influence of administration to ensure neutral polls." Describing the President's dialogue with them in congenial atmosphere, Selim said his party urged the President to take initiatives to formulate rules on the appointment of the Election Commission. "The necessary rules in this regard have not been formulated over the last 40 years." He emphasised on strengthening the Election Commission and also called for holding dialogues among the country's political parties to reach consensus on election issues. As the President sought names for appointment of new Election Commissioners, Selim told the President that the CPB would send the names to him later. He, however, said the political parties should reach consensus over names of the commissioners. Mr Selim urged the President in the dialogue to form a search committee with people holding constitutional posts including the Chief Justice to find the probable names of commissioners. He said the search committee would send the names to the Parliamentary Business Committee that would prepare a shortlist after scrutiny and send the same to the President for appointing the Election Commissioners.