EC to hold dialogue with 12 parties today

Ahead of the 13th national election, the Election Commission (EC) will today (Wednesday 19) hold talks with 12 parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP), at its Agargaon office.

According to the EC schedule, the first session will run from 10:30am to 12:30pm with Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Insaniyat Biplob, NCP, Ganosamhati Andolon and Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM).

The second session, from 2.00pm to 4.00pm, includes BNP, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Republican Party (BRP) and the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist).

EC officials confirmed the schedule earlier this week.

So far, the EC has held dialogues with 36 registered parties, bringing the total number of registered parties to 55 after two new additions.

The Awami League’s registration remains suspended, while three parties have had their registration canceled.

Parties are expected to raise issues related to election management, participation, security, monitoring, voting systems and administrative neutrality during today’s meeting.