The Election Commission (EC) has called an emergency meeting with the foreign diplomats of 14 countries and donor agencies on August 27 to discuss on resolving the crisis regarding the next parliamentary elections.
EC officials said the EC wanted to hold an acceptable general election with participation of all political parties and it started the diplomatic preparedness. The meeting will take place at the EC secretariat, they added.
The EC invited ambassadors and donor agencies from the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, United nations/UNDP, and European Union.
Officials concerned informed that the EC did not invite diplomats of Middle East and South Asia.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said there was no formal rule to discuss with any foreign diplomats regarding the parliamentary elections, adding that as the EC got different types of assistance and suggestions from some foreign institutions during the elections, it planned to sit with them.
EC Secretary Dr Mohammad Sadik said it was a routine work of the EC to sit with foreign donor agencies.
The commission would hold the meeting, seeking suggestions to hold the next parliamentary elections in a free, fair and neutral manner, while the EC would also discuss for new ways to resolve the existing crisis in the country, EC sources said.
The agenda of the meeting included election method, stance of diplomats regarding the next general elections, election preparations, solving political crisis, discussion on holding election under the incumbent EC and reforms of electoral laws, they added.
