No possibility of holding talks with BNP

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said there is no further scope for a dialogue with the BNP or any other political party regarding the next parliamentary election.

He made the remark at a views-exchange meeting with government officials at the deputy commissioner's office in Patuakhali yesterday.

He also said the BNP was requested many times to participate in the dialogue on the next parliamentary election, but the party rejected those.

"They are adamant in their demand for a non-partisan government and the reformation of the election commission," he added.

However, during dialogues with the EC and at various recent events, several former CECs, election commissioners, and experts opined that the commission must hold discussions with all political parties to ensure their participation in the next national polls.

At a programme in the capital on Wednesday, former CEC Mohammad Abu Hena said everyone expects a participatory election.

"Only urging all to join the election is not enough … Create that confidence [for them] through your [EC's] actions. The EC has to be neutral and that neutrality should be visible."

Another ex-CEC, ATM Shamsul Huda, at a dialogue with EC on June 12, said, "If all parties don't participate in this election, it won't be acceptable. How you will bring them to [participate in] the election depends on the power of persuasion."

In the same programme, former election commissioner Mahbub Talukdar said, "If the election is not participatory, it will not be acceptable nationally or internationally".

The BNP and several other political parties have been pressing home a 10-point demand, including the formation of an impartial caretaker or interim government, which would form a neutral Election Commission to ensure a level-playing field for all parties. Stopping the use of EVMs was another demand.

Meanwhile, the CEC said by-elections to the parliamentary seats that fell vacant following resignations of the BNP lawmakers will be held through EVMs, but the commission does not have the financial support to install CCTV cameras at the polling stations in those constituencies.

The EC currently has the capacity to conduct elections with EVMs in 50 to 60 stations.