EC To Hold Dialogue With Political Parties On Nov 4

The Election Commission (EC) will hold a dialogue with all the registered political parties ahead of the upcoming National Parliament elections. Secretary of the Election Commission Jahangir Alam told the media on Tuesday (October 31) that the commission will sit with 44 parties on November 4.

He said that the Election Commission will hold this dialogue to inform the political parties about the preparations for the upcoming National Assembly elections.

The EC secretary said that the Election Commission will invite the president and general secretary of the parties or two representatives appointed by them for the dialogue. All registered parties will be called for dialogue in two phases.

The country's two main political parties are at odds over the shape of the government during the election. BNP wants the elections to be held under a non-partisan caretaker government. On the other hand, the ruling Awami League is adamant about the election under the current government. The Election Commission announced the initiative to hold a dialogue with the political parties amid the ongoing movement of BNP on this issue.

Earlier in July last year, the EC held a dialogue with the political parties to prepare the action plan for the 12th national elections. However, the BNP and eight opposition parties did not participate in that dialogue. They say that it is not possible for the current election commission to organize free, fair, and participatory elections.

In March this year, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal issued a semi-official letter inviting the BNP for formal or informal talks. However, BNP did not respond to the invitation, said an election commissioner.