BNP opposes president-formed EC

BNP yesterday opposed the idea of President Abdul Hamid forming a search committee to constitute the Election Commission (EC) and demanded instead a “neutral” body formed through engaging all political parties.

The president's committee will “be a reflection of the prime minister's order”, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed told a press briefing at BNP's Naya Paltan central office.

“Kazi Rakibuddin-led Election Commission has set an example...what could be the fate of such a search committee,”he added.

“The present prime minister enjoys wholesale powers like emperors...people know very well how much power the president enjoys (over the formation),” he read out from a written statement.

Rizvi also said the ruling AL wants the committee to be biased towards them and hold a national election resembling the one of Rakibuddin-led EC organised in 2014.