BNP chief Khaleda Zia will lead a ten-member delegation to discuss with President Abdul Hamid the formation of a new Election Commission at Bangabhaban.

The party yesterday gave the names of the team members who will join the talks on December 18, said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and senior standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Tariqul Islam, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Mirza Abbas and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury will accompany Khaleda, party insiders said.

On Monday, a letter was sent to BNP's Nayapaltan central office from Bangabhaban inviting the party to a dialogue with President Abdul Hamid on EC formation.

The letter, addressed to Fakhrul, requested the party to meet the president at 4:30pm at Bangabhaban on December 18. It also sought the names of those who will be there.

The president will hold meetings with the Jatiya Party on December 20, Liberal Democratic Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League on December 21 and Jatiya Samajtantrik Party on December 22.

He will also meet other registered political parties in phases to talk on the issue.

BNP insiders said they would focus on the party chairperson's proposal on formation of a strong and neutral EC.

The party will recommend five to six noted citizens including four retired judges for the search committee.

It is likely to bring up the formation of an election-time government as well, which will assist the EC in holding a fair election, if the president allows them to raise the issue.

Khaleda on November 18 placed a 13-point proposal for forming a new EC in consultation with representatives of all registered political parties or representatives of the parties who had representation in parliament in different periods.

The party on December 6 submitted the proposal to Bangabhaban for the president's consideration.