Online Report : Jatiya Party (JaPa), the main opposition in parliament, has put forward presented a three point proposal to President M Abdul Hamid to form the Election Commission during the dialogue on Monday. An eight-member delegation of Jatiya Party participated in the hour-long dialogue with the President from 4.20pm at Bangabhaban.

The proposals include the enactment of a law to form Election Commission. Besides, the party has proposed to the President the names of four qualified and impartial candidates for the search committee.

However, the names of the four were not disclosed to the media.

President Hamid said that Election Commission is a very important part in the election process.

"The five-year tenure of the incumbent Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, will expire on February 14 next. So the dialogue has been organised to form an acceptable Election Commission," he said.

The president hoped that it will be possible to form an acceptable EC on the opinion and suggestion of the political parties. The new EC will be able to conduct a free and fair election from national election to local election, he also hoped.

JaPa chairman Quader thanked the president for holidng such a discussion aiming to form the new EC.

The delegation proposed the enactment of a law in line with constitution as there exists no law as required under Article 118(1) of the constitution to form the commission and appoint the chief and other election commissioners.

The delegation said an ordinance can be issued if formulating a law for its formation is not possible right now.

They also said if making a law and issuing an ordinance for its formation are not possible right now, an acceptable `Search Committee` can be formed for constituting the next EC.

The delegation also assured the president of their all-out support in this initiative of forming EC.

The other members of the delegation are Senior Co-Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Secretary General Mujibul Haque, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlardar, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abul Hossain Babla, Salma Islam, Chief Whip of the main opposition party Mashiur Rahman Ranga.

Currently there are 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website. But only nine parties have representation in Parliament.

The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.