"The chief election commissioner and two election commissioners (EC) are controversial. And the newly appointed EC is also controversial since he came from the defence ministry and hails from Gabtoli of Bogra district, " he said without explaining this. "So, these people need to be removed."

Badruddoza was speaking as chief guest at a discussion on 'Role of political leaders in protecting the country's mineral resources, and in industrialisation,' organised by Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) at its office in the capital.

The BDB president said his party is in favour of reviewing all the controversial deals in energy sector, including that with Asian Energy, to protect the interest of the country.

The deal with Asia Energy was signed secretly and was not discussed even by the cabinet, he said.

Badruddoza was a cabinet member when the deal was made in 1994 by the

previous BNP government.

"A deal like this should be transparent. It is totally one-sided and it does not protect the interest of the country. It should not be implemented," he said.

Other speakers included BDB Secretary General Abdul Mannan, Member-Secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Electricity and Port Prof Anu Muhammad, Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury of Gonosasthya, BCI President AK Azad and BDB Joint Secretary Firoz M Hassan.

Anu Muhammad said all the deals on mineral resources were signed secretly, ignoring the country's interest. And now, foreign companies have become owners of mineral resources of the country, adversely affecting its economy.

The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and International Monetary Fund have control over the national economy but they are not accountable for it, he said. "Prescriptions given by these organisations did not protect the interest of the country."

Zafarullah Chowdhury said the poor are suffering badly due to price hike of essentials. He stressed the need for decentralisation of the administration to improve the prevailing situation in different fields.

AK Azad said deals signed with foreign investors in telecom sector also could not protect national interest. The deals failed to bring foreign investments as these investors are making money simply using local resources. Foreign telecom operators are remitting huge amounts of foreign currency causing a negative impact on the economy, he added.