BNP forms 5-man panel to draft agenda of talks with govt
Friday, 10 October 2008
BNP Thursday formed a 5-member committee, headed by its standing-committee member Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, for drafting the agenda of their planned dialogue with the caretaker government likely on October 15 for a final say on the upcoming elections, reports UNB.
Other members of the committee are senior BNP leaders MK Anwar, MA Mannan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Rizvi Ahmed.
The team leader said BNP is ready to join the general election, set for December 18, and called for creating a level playing field for all parties.
"A congenial atmosphere for the election must be in place according to the Chief Adviser's commitment," said Tanvir Siddiqui, after taking up the party assignment for doing the spadework for the decisive meet on the sticking-points, raised by the party regarding their participation in the polls.
The agenda will be finalised in consultation with BNP chairperson and former PM Khaleda Zia, recently released from jail on bail in four graft cases.
Tanvir said they are taking preparation for the dialogue with the government. The party has not yet received any formal invitation letter from the Chief Adviser's office.
October 15 happens to be the last date for filing application in prescribed forms for registration of political parties with the Election Commission (EC) by fulfilling the revised Representation of People Order (RPO) conditions for contesting the parliamentary polls.
He said at the dialogue BNP would place its 5-point demands that include lifting the state of emergency, cancellation of the RPO Ordinance 2008, easing party-registration provisions, deferring the dates of upazila elections from Dec 24 and 28, and release of all political leaders.
The BNP leader said Chief Election Commissioner Dr Shamsul Huda had stated that the emergency should be withdrawn before the election, and also pledged to convey his opinion to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed. "But the matter has not yet been cleared."
Asked about BNP's registration, Nazrul Islam Khan said they are in favour of registration, but they requested the EC to clear some points regarding the registration.
"The EC is trying to control parties by imposing certain ambiguous and unwarranted provisions," he said about the politico-electoral rules made through reforms under the caretaker government.
Other members of the committee are senior BNP leaders MK Anwar, MA Mannan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Rizvi Ahmed.
The team leader said BNP is ready to join the general election, set for December 18, and called for creating a level playing field for all parties.
"A congenial atmosphere for the election must be in place according to the Chief Adviser's commitment," said Tanvir Siddiqui, after taking up the party assignment for doing the spadework for the decisive meet on the sticking-points, raised by the party regarding their participation in the polls.
The agenda will be finalised in consultation with BNP chairperson and former PM Khaleda Zia, recently released from jail on bail in four graft cases.
Tanvir said they are taking preparation for the dialogue with the government. The party has not yet received any formal invitation letter from the Chief Adviser's office.
October 15 happens to be the last date for filing application in prescribed forms for registration of political parties with the Election Commission (EC) by fulfilling the revised Representation of People Order (RPO) conditions for contesting the parliamentary polls.
He said at the dialogue BNP would place its 5-point demands that include lifting the state of emergency, cancellation of the RPO Ordinance 2008, easing party-registration provisions, deferring the dates of upazila elections from Dec 24 and 28, and release of all political leaders.
The BNP leader said Chief Election Commissioner Dr Shamsul Huda had stated that the emergency should be withdrawn before the election, and also pledged to convey his opinion to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed. "But the matter has not yet been cleared."
Asked about BNP's registration, Nazrul Islam Khan said they are in favour of registration, but they requested the EC to clear some points regarding the registration.
"The EC is trying to control parties by imposing certain ambiguous and unwarranted provisions," he said about the politico-electoral rules made through reforms under the caretaker government.