The BNP, if invited, will not join the dialogue with President Abdul Hamid over forming the new Election Commission.

As per the law ministry’s opinion there is no scope in law to allow BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday.

Rejecting the government’s argument that there is not enough time to enact a law on forming the next Election Commission, Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) yesterday said the caretaker government bill was passed in parliament within one night in 1996.

Law Minister Anisul Huq has sent his opinion to the home ministry on the application seeking government permission to take BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) yesterday proposed an interim government plan called the “national government”, which will encompass representatives of all political parties.

Khelafat Majlish yesterday demanded that the president take initiative to form an election-time government to hold national polls in a free, fair and acceptable manner.

President Abdul Hamid said although he wants an Election Commission that is acceptable to all, his power according to the constitution is limited in this regard, Bangladesh National Awami Party leaders claimed yesterday. 

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) will not join the dialogue with President Abdul Hamid over the formation of the next Election Commission.

BNP yesterday termed the ongoing dialogue on the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) a farce, as the party thinks it will not pave the way for holding a credible national election in the country.

The ward-level councils of Chattogram city Awami League, which was supposed to begin today, have been postponed at the last moment due to “intra-party rifts”.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has insulted valiant women freedom fighters and sacrifices of all war heroes by calling his party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia a “freedom fighter”.

Chattogram police have pressed charges against BNP standing committee member and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in a case filed on charge of conspiring to destabilise the country by instigating a student movement.

To help understand the reality of Bangladesh’s development, political process and state system, more studies on Karl Marx’s works are needed, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

In response to yesterday’s clash with police that left at least 100 leaders and activists injured in Habiganj town, BNP will hold protests and demonstrations at the upazila level in Sylhet division tomorrow and at the district level on December 25.

The demand for framing a specific law on reconstitution of the Election Commission is growing louder as all nine political parties invited to the president’s dialogue so far are of the opinion that a law is required to form a non-controversial EC.

At least 100 leaders and activists of the BNP were injured in a clash with policemen in Habiganj town yesterday, claimed the party.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) stressed the need for enacting a law on formation of the Election Commission as it took part in a dialogue with President Abdul Hamid yesterday.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said "As long as Awami League is in power, there is no reason in forming an Election Commission".

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday once again said that there was no scope for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment as per the law.

Election win without any competition should not be encouraged in a democracy, Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar said yesterday.