EC invites BNP, allies for talks tomorrow
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday formally invited BNP and its allies to a dialogue on electoral issues tomorrow.
The EC Secretariat sent letters to BNP and its allies inviting BNP to sit with the commission at 11:30am, Jamaat at 10:30am and IOJ at 2:00pm at the commission secretariat conference room.
The letters, sent to the secretaries general of the three parties, did not specify any agenda for discussion as BNP expressed its desire to discuss all electoral issues.
"Any election-related issue can be discussed at the dialogue. I hope the dialogue will be successful," Secretary to the EC Secretariat Humayun Kabir said at a press briefing yesterday.
Taking into consideration the views of BNP and its allies on some crucial issues including the holding of upazila elections, the EC will announce specific dates for polls to parliament, upazila and Dhaka City Corporation on Monday.
This is the first time BNP is going to hold talks on electoral issues with the EC after the reconstitution of the commission led by ATM Shamsul Huda.
Earlier the EC held talks with the pro-reform factions of BNP, drawing widespread criticism.
The BNP secretary general earlier said they would ask the EC not to hold any election before the national polls hinting that preparation of the electoral roll and the Representation of the People Order (RPO) will also be discussed during the dialogue.
The EC secretary yesterday said the commission is thinking about including those in the voter list who failed to get registered due to unavoidable reasons.
Replying to a query, Humayun Kabir said the first consignment of ballot boxes has already reached the country and now awaits customs clearance.
Commenting on the registration of political parties, the EC secretary said October 15 is the deadline for submitting application to get registered with the commission.
Ruling out any possibility of extending the deadline, he said, "It will be difficult to extend the deadline beyond October 15 as it may delay the election," he added.
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