EC won’t invite both factions of BNP to talks

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said he sees no positive signal this moment for unification of BNP, and ruled out any possibility of inviting both factions of the party to EC’s electoral reforms talks.

“If the Election Commission invites both factions of BNP [to electoral reform talks], many people may say it is splitting political parties,” Huda told reporters when asked if the EC would sit with both factions of BNP as the caretaker government reportedly plans to do so.

When his attention was drawn to the government’s informal talks with Saifur-led BNP faction, the CEC said he does not know the government criteria for talks with political parties.

Five advisers to the caretaker government held informal talks with Saifur-led faction yesterday and are learnt to have communicated also with leaders of the other faction of BNP led by Khandaker Delwar Hossain for informal talks with them.

Asked when the EC would hold electoral reform talks with the BNP, Huda said the EC was waiting for their unification. He however said he did not see any positive signal in this regard.

“We will wait one or two more days to see their unification. Then we will take decision on talks with BNP since we can’t wait for long,” Huda said.

The CEC once again expressed his desire to have a united BNP at the EC’s electoral reform talks. “We will be happy if they (BNP factions) resolve their differences and join the talks with us together. We hope they will reach an understanding. It is better for them and for us as well if they come together,” said Huda.

Earlier in November last year, the EC had invited Saifur-led BNP faction to electoral reforms talks ignoring objections from the faction led by Delwar, who was appointed secretary general of the party by its detained Chairperson Khaleda Zia. This triggered a controversy.

Finally, Khaleda filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the EC’s invitation to Saifur-led faction. The HC on April 10 discharged the writ.

Against this backdrop, the EC is yet to hold talks with BNP.

Following discharge of the writ petition, Huda told reporters on the day the EC might informally talk to both factions of BNP so that they could join reform talks it together.

Asked yesterday if he would initiate any informal move now, the CEC said he does not feel encouraged after reading statements of both factions’ leaders in newspapers.

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