Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday urged political parties to attend the ongoing dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) to ensure a participatory national parliament election. 

“A 10-member delegation of the Awami League will join the dialogue with EC on July 31,” he said after a meeting with BRTC officials in Dhaka. 

The ruling party leader also said Awami League never wanted an uncontested election.

“Awami League does not want to score goals in an empty field. Every responsible political party should participate in the dialogue with EC. I hope all registered party will attend the dialogue,” Quader added. 

The EC started dialogues with the political parties on Sunday to seek their suggestions on making the upcoming 12th parliamentary polls participatory. 

All major political parties, except for the BNP, said that they will participate in the dialogue, but have yet to set an agenda.

Meanwhile, acknowledging the Election Commission’s inability to stop violence during polls, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has urged political parties to take on some responsibility.

“We cannot stop violence. You (political parties) have to take on some responsibility, because you are the players… we are the referees. We have enough power, which we will put to use,” Awal said.