The main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will not participate in any dialogue with the current Election Commission (EC) ahead of the next general election.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they have received a letter from the Election Commission.

He clarify the party’s position and said BNP would not join any dialogue with Election Commission as their demand to hold the national election under the non-party caretaker government is not fulfilled yet.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other leaders of the party have been invited on Thursday by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal for holding dialogue and view exchange meeting.

Meanwhile, BNP, its associate bodies and like-minded parties held rallies in cities across the country to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government and holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government ahead of the national election.

In the letter CEC said, “We have been conducting local government elections since taking the charge of the office on February 27, 2022. The present commission has been realizing the significant of holding a participatory and competitive parliamentary election ever since taking the charge of the office.”

Mentioning that has been expressing its no confidence over the EC, the letter said, “You (BNP) have decided not to take part in general election without caretaker government. However, the commission has no comment on such political decision and strategy.”

“Though you rejected the call (for dialogue) earlier, but the Election Commission thinks that as a large political party there could be informal talks or view exchange meeting with you on the next 12th parliamentary election,” read the letter.