DHAKA, Jan 5, 2022 (BSS) - Bangladesh Islami Front (BIF) and Jamiat
Ulema-E-Islam Bangladesh (JUIB), during its dialogue with President M
Abdul Hamid, today separately proposed for enactment of time befitting
law and empowering the Election Commission (EC) during the polls-time.

  These two Islamic parties sought the President to enact a new law,
hand over the charges of home, public administration and defense
ministries during the election-time government as they believe it
would be helpful to hold a free, fair and credible poll.

  Later in the regular briefing after the dialogue, President's Press
Secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed the newsmen.

  He said on the 10th day of the ongoing dialogue, a six-member BIF
delegation led by its chairman Maulana A A Mannan and secretary
general Maulana M A Matin placed the proposals while a seven-member
delegation led by Maulana Abdur Rab Yousufi, Vice-President of JUIB, a
former partner of BNP-led 20 party alliance, gave some proposals to
the President.

  However, total 15-party sat for the dialogue with the President till
date while three parties -- Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) -- refused
to join it.

  Welcoming the leaders at Bangabhaban, the President said the
formation of an acceptable election commission as well as the
cooperation of all concerned, including political parties, is a must
to ensure a free, fair and credible election.

  The head of the state called upon the country's political parties to
come forward to motivate the people in this process for the betterment
of the country and its people.

  President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major
General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin and
Secretary (Attachment) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were present there.

  The Bangabhaban spokesman said the President has invited 10 more
political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for
the dialogue over the formation of an independent, neutral and
credible EC.

  On December 20, the first day of the ongoing dialogue with the
political parties, the President began the talks with the Jatiya
Party, main opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament).

  Tomorrow's talks will be held with the Gano Front at 6 pm and the
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at 7 pm.

  Dialogue with Krishak Sramik Janata League will be held on January 9
at 6 pm and Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) at 7 pm on that day.

  Talks with the Jatiya Party (JP) will be held on January 10 at 6 pm
while with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) will be held at 7 pm.

  According to the schedule of dialogue, the President will hold talks
with the Islami Front Bangladesh at 6 pm on January 11 (Tuesday) and
with the Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bangladesh NAP) at 7 pm on
the same day.

  The talks with the BNP has been fixed at 4 pm on January 12
(Wednesday) and the National Peoples' Party (NPP) at 6pm on the day.

  No date has yet been set for talks with other political parties.

   Earlier, a dialogue was held with the participation of political
parties ahead of the ninth, tenth and eleventh parliamentary
elections.

  The President has been given the power to appoint CECs and no more
than four Election Commissioners. In the last few terms, the President
has formed the Election Commission on the basis of the recommendations
of the Search Committee.

  The current EC's five-year tenure will end on February 14 next year.
During this period, the President will form a new EC, under which the
twelfth parliamentary polls will be held.