Dialogue on new EC: Islami Andolan declines president's invite
Party calls for neutral election-time government
File photo of Chormonai Pir Sayed Rezaul Karim Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 01 Jan 2022, 08:27 PMUpdate : 01 Jan 2022, 09:16 PM
Islami Andolan Bangladesh is set to follow in the footsteps of the BNP, the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, and a section of the Gono Forum led by Mostafa Mohsin Montu by skipping the dialogues with President Abdul Hamid on the reconstitution of the Election Commission.
Amir of Islami Andolan and Charmonai Pir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim announced the party’s decision during a press conference at the party's central office in Purana Paltan on Saturday.
He also demanded the formation of an interim government to supervise the next general election.
The president's dialogue with political parties on the formation of a new election commission ahead of the 12th general election began on December 20.
At Saturday’s press conference, Amir Muhammad Rezaul Karim said: "We are extremely disappointed about having taken part in the dialogues of 2012 and 2016.
“The EC formed after the 2012 dialogue held unilateral elections in 2014 to reflect the will of those in power, with 153 unopposed MPs. The commission formed after the 2016 dialogue held an extremely controversial and unacceptable election in 2018, which many call the midnight election,” he added.
In light of the previous dialogues, Islami Andolan did not consider it appropriate to take part in such a “non-appealing and meaningless” activity that is “against the aspirations of the people,” the amir further said.
After announcing the party’s decision to skip the dialogue, Islami Andolan placed a seven-point demand that includes calls for a neutral government to hold the next election in a free and fair manner.
The demand also includes a call for the formation of a Constitutional Council, consisting of political organizations and other stakeholders, to appoint the Election Commission.
Furthermore, Islami Andolan called for members of the Election Commission to be removed if any kind of dishonesty, incompetence and bias was detected in the election.
Responsibility for the Ministries of Public Administration, Law, Home Affairs and Information should be entrusted to the EC during the election. The EC must take responsibility for ensuring that every incident of electoral violence is brought to justice, the party said.
Dialogue on new EC: Islami Andolan declines president's invite
Islami Andolan Bangladesh is set to follow in the footsteps of the BNP, the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, and a section of the Gono Forum led by Mostafa Mohsin Montu by skipping the dialogues with President Abdul Hamid on the reconstitution of the Election Commission.
Amir of Islami Andolan and Charmonai Pir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim announced the party’s decision during a press conference at the party's central office in Purana Paltan on Saturday.
He also demanded the formation of an interim government to supervise the next general election.
The president's dialogue with political parties on the formation of a new election commission ahead of the 12th general election began on December 20.
At Saturday’s press conference, Amir Muhammad Rezaul Karim said: "We are extremely disappointed about having taken part in the dialogues of 2012 and 2016.
“The EC formed after the 2012 dialogue held unilateral elections in 2014 to reflect the will of those in power, with 153 unopposed MPs. The commission formed after the 2016 dialogue held an extremely controversial and unacceptable election in 2018, which many call the midnight election,” he added.
In light of the previous dialogues, Islami Andolan did not consider it appropriate to take part in such a “non-appealing and meaningless” activity that is “against the aspirations of the people,” the amir further said.
After announcing the party’s decision to skip the dialogue, Islami Andolan placed a seven-point demand that includes calls for a neutral government to hold the next election in a free and fair manner.
The demand also includes a call for the formation of a Constitutional Council, consisting of political organizations and other stakeholders, to appoint the Election Commission.
Furthermore, Islami Andolan called for members of the Election Commission to be removed if any kind of dishonesty, incompetence and bias was detected in the election.
Responsibility for the Ministries of Public Administration, Law, Home Affairs and Information should be entrusted to the EC during the election. The EC must take responsibility for ensuring that every incident of electoral violence is brought to justice, the party said.