An 11-member BNP delegation, led by its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, held talks with President Abdul Hamid over the formation of the new Election Commission (EC) at Bangabhaban on Sunday afternoon.
The meeting that started at 4:37 pm at the Darbar Hall of the presidential palace ended at 5:35 pm.
The BNP chairperson entered Bangabhaban around 4:30 pm.
The BNP delegation members include Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The BNP chief set out from her Gulshan residence around 3pm for her party’s Nayapaltan central office where her other delegation members were present.
Later, they all, led by Khaleda, went to Bangabhaban for the dialogue with the President, Khaleda’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
President Hamid initiated formal talks with political parties over the formation of the new EC with his first meeting with BNP first.
The President has taken the dialogue initiative as the tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February next.
Party leaders, wishing anonymity, said the BNP delegation held the talks with President on the basis of their chairperson’s proposal for constituting a stronger and neutral Commission.
— UNB, Dhaka.
