The number of political parties, which have responded to the invitations of the Election Commission (EC) for dialogue in the third phase ahead of the 12th general election, has increased compared to the previous calls of the EC.
In the dialogue with the EC, which began on July 17 and ended yesterday, a total of 30 political parties including the ruling Awami League and main opposition in the parliament Jatiya Party have responded to the EC’s call.
However, only nine parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) did not respond to the EC’s call for dialogue.
Two, among the 30 political parties which have responded to the EC’s call, sought more time from the EC for the dialogue. It means that majority number of political parties are expected to take part in the next 12th national polls.
Among all the 39 registered political parties, only three parties are the allies of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
In an earlier move, during the second phase dialogue of the EC with all the 39 registered political parties, 28 parties took part in the dialogue. But the rest 11 parties, including BNP and CPB did not take part in it.
According to the EC officials, the political parties which took part in the dialogue with the EC are- ruling Bangladesh Awami League, main opposition in the parliament Jatiya Party, Tarikat Federation, Bangladesh NAP, Gano Forum, Krishok Shramik Janata League, Zaker Party, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, NPP, Zamiyat-e-Ulama-e Islam, Workers Party, Muslim League, Islami Front Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islamic Front, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Khelafat Andolan, Gano Front, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, Ganotantri Party, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Mazlish, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Sanskrtic Mukti Jote, Biplabi Workers Party, Bangladesh Congress, PNP and NDM.
Those parties which did not take part in the dialogue are- BNP, CPB, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Bangladesher Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Muslim League (BML), Bangladesh Kalyan Party, JSD, LDP and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.
The two parties, which have responded to the EC’s call and sought more time for dialogue, are: Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP) and Jatiya Party-JP. The EC might consider their request.
According to sources, during the dialogue, all the political parties placed their views and recommendations to the EC for a free and fair election.
President Abdul Hamid appointed the new EC, who took oath on February 27.
Then the EC had dialogues with the prominent personalities, journalists from March 13 to June 12.
Later, the EC took another initiative of holding dialogue with all the political parties regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in phases from June 19 to June 28.
In the dialogue, 28 parties took part but 11 did not take part.
