The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked both the two factions of the BNP to unite and join the dialogue on electoral reform together.

"During the meeting with both the factions of the BNP, we have asked them to come unitedly within next two to three days. We have told them that the Commission does not want to be involved in such divisions, rather we want to sit with united BNP," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters after holding informal meetings with leaders of pro-Delwar and reformist groups of BNP at the commission office.

Leaders of the pro-Delwar BNP said they urged the CEC to send invitation letter to Khondoker Delwar Hossain and then they would be able to join the dialogue unitedly within 72 hours.

On the other hand, leaders of pro-reformist BNP urged the EC to announce poll schedule immediately. They also hoped that they would be able to join the dialogue unitedly.

Election Commissioners-Muhammad Sohul Hossain and Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain-attended both the meetings.

Asked which faction would get the letter to join the dialogue, the CEC said since both the sides assured that they would be able to come together, the commission would sen, letter when the two factions will come jointly.

"We will take our decision if they fail to get united within the stipulated time," he said.

The CEC said if the two sides stood united and informed the commission, then the date for dialogue with BNP would be determined.

A 16-member delegation of pro-Delwar BNP led by party standing committee member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui joined the meeting with the CEC at about 12:45pm.

The members of the delegation include standing committee member Dr RA Gani, BNP Chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Joint Secretary Generals Nazrul Islam Khan, Goyeswar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Sohrab Hossain, Gazi Mohammad Shajahan, Mohammad Shajahan, Barrister Nasir Uddin Ashim, Selim Reza Habib, Khairul Kabir Khokon and Abdul Momin Talukdar.

Briefing journalists, Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui said that they had sincere discussions with the Commission.

"BNP is an election party and is prepared to take part in the next elections," he noted.

ASM Hannan Shah said they have told the CEC that Khondoker Delwar is the secretary general of the party.

"Let the Commission invite him formally, we will sit unitedly with them within 72 hours," he said.

Replying to a question, the outspoken Hannan Shah pointed out that previously they had not been allowed to step in the EC Secretariat.

Nazrul Islam Khan said they lodged a strong protest to the EC for not addressing Khandaker Delwar Hossain as BNP secretary general in the invitation letter sent to him on Wednesday.

He said they told the Commission that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should be released for creating congenial atmosphere to hold the election in a free and fair manner.

The BNP leader said they also told the Commission that it would not be possible to hold elections if the state of emergency is not lifted and election atmosphere created.

Earlier, a four-member delegation of the pro-reformist BNP led by senior party leader Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman joined the meeting with the CEC at about 10:40am

The other members of the delegation are acting secretary general Maj Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Mofazzal Karim and former lawmaker Fazlul Azim.

After hour-long meeting, Mahbubur Rahman told reporters that they have told the CEC to announce election schedule as soon as possible to implement the election roadmap.

He hoped that both the factions would be able to join the dialogue unitedly.

Maj Hafiz Uddin said they met the CEC with no agenda rather it was a courtesy call.

He said there is no division within BNP and hoped they would be able to join the dialogue unitedly.

Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal demonstrated outside of the Commission.

When pro-reformist leader Mahbubur Rahman was leaving the commission they shouted at him.

Seeing the situation the other leaders left the commission through other road with police security.