Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee members sat in an important meeting on Monday night to work out the party’s next course of action after an elaborate discussion on the new Election Commission formed by the President based on the search committee’s recommends.

The meeting began around 9:30pm with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair at her Gulshan office.

President Abdul Hamid constituted the new Election Commission (EC) making former secretary KM Nurul Huad the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

He also appointed four new election commissioners — former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, ex-secretary Rafiqul Islam, ex-district and session’s judge Begum Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

Contacted, a BNP standing committee member wishing anonymity said the meeting was convened to discuss the country’s current political situation and the new EC.

He said they will work out the party’s strategy evaluating the formation of the new EC.

The meeting is also likely to discuss the party’s plan for presenting a proposal before the nation about an election-time government to assist the EC to ensure a fair and acceptable national election.

The BNP policymaker said their party’s greater focus is on making an arrangement for an election-time government than the EC.

He said their chairperson at a suitable time will place a proposal on formation of an election-time supportive government to drum up public support in favour of it.

BNP, however, will not give any formal reaction to the new EC until its chairperson’s meeting with 20-party leaders on Tuesday night.