The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday invited the opposition BNP to a view exchange meeting over the 12th parliamentary polls.
A demi-official letter has been sent to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.
However, no time has been fixed by the Election Commission for the meeting, said Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan.
The letter said that BNP can participate in the meeting along with their like-minded political party leaders.
However, while talking to Bangla Tribune, Election Commission Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said: “A decision was taken to send the letter. A letter was also prepared. But as far as I know, the letter has not been sent yet.”
In the letter, the chief election commissioner wrote: "We have been conducting local elections consistently since assuming office on February 27, 2022. The present commission has been seeking participatory and competitive parliamentary elections ever since assuming office.”
It later states the BNP's position of not participating in the national elections without a caretaker government, and adds: “However, the commission has no comment on your political decisions and strategies.”
The chief election commissioner also said: “Although rejected (polls) by you, the commission thinks that as a prominent political party, there can be an informal discussion or view exchange meeting on the upcoming 12th parliamentary polls. I invite you to the Election Commission. Dates can be discussed and fixed if you kindly agree.”
Regarding the letter, a senior official of BNP said that the party has no interest in the current Election Commission.
BNP has also declined to comment on receiving any letter.
The opposition BNP and its associate bodies have held multiple protests all over Bangladesh to hold the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The party has repeatedly said it would not participate in the next general election if a caretaker government is not established.
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday invited the opposition BNP to a view exchange meeting over the 12th parliamentary polls.
A demi-official letter has been sent to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.
However, no time has been fixed by the Election Commission for the meeting, said Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan.
The letter said that BNP can participate in the meeting along with their like-minded political party leaders.
However, while talking to Bangla Tribune, Election Commission Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said: “A decision was taken to send the letter. A letter was also prepared. But as far as I know, the letter has not been sent yet.”
In the letter, the chief election commissioner wrote: "We have been conducting local elections consistently since assuming office on February 27, 2022. The present commission has been seeking participatory and competitive parliamentary elections ever since assuming office.”
It later states the BNP's position of not participating in the national elections without a caretaker government, and adds: “However, the commission has no comment on your political decisions and strategies.”
The chief election commissioner also said: “Although rejected (polls) by you, the commission thinks that as a prominent political party, there can be an informal discussion or view exchange meeting on the upcoming 12th parliamentary polls. I invite you to the Election Commission. Dates can be discussed and fixed if you kindly agree.”
Regarding the letter, a senior official of BNP said that the party has no interest in the current Election Commission.
BNP has also declined to comment on receiving any letter.
The opposition BNP and its associate bodies have held multiple protests all over Bangladesh to hold the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The party has repeatedly said it would not participate in the next general election if a caretaker government is not established.