President Abdul Hamid on Monday said cordial relation among political parties is a must for democracy in the country.

‘The aim of all political parties is the same — people’s welfare. So, political parties should take initiatives to reach a consensus,’ he said at a meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh National Awami Party (BNAP) at Bangabhaban over the formation of the new Election Commission, reports UNB.

Earlier, the President held meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM) over the EC formation.

President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meetings.

During the meeting with BNAP, President Abdul Hamid said different political parties have given their different opinions over the EC formation and hoped that these suggestions and opinions will help constitute a strong EC.

BNAP also proposed enacting a law for formation of neutral and strong EC, aiming to hold free, fair and neutral elections in the country.

Placing an 11-ponit proposal, BNAP secretary general M Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan urged the President to form a 5-7 member search committee for the EC.

He also said if the EC formulates any election rule it should do so in consultation with political parties.        

During the meeting, secretary general of BKM Maulana Mahfuzul Haque placed a 5-point proposal over the EC formation.

The BKM delegation proposed enacting a law for formation of the EC.  Their other proposals include setting up a separate secretariat for the EC, appointing honest and neutral persons in the EC and constituting the EC on the basis of a consensus.

Later, the President held a meeting with a 10-member delegation of Gono Front.

Gono Front chairman Md Zakir Hossain placed a 14-point proposal at the meeting.

Enacting a time-befitting law for formation of the EC, ensuring full independence of the Commission, constituting EC with people who are honest and believe in the spirit of liberation war, constituting a nine-member EC and introducing Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) are among their proposals.