EC to begin dialogue with political parties ahead of polls, Jamaat on 19 Nov, BNP the next day

The Election Commission is set to begin a series of dialogues with registered political parties from tomorrow, ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.

As part of this process, the EC will hold talks with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on 19 November, followed by a meeting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) the next day, according to EC sources.

The EC's initial plan includes inviting 12 political parties on the first day of the talks, with each party allowed to send up to three representatives.

Sources said on 19 November, the commission will hold discussions with Jamaat-e-Islami, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Bangladesh Development Party, Bangladesh Islami Front, and Khelafat Majlis.

The following morning, the EC will meet representatives from the BNP, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Gonoshonghoti Andolon, Bangladesh Labour Party, and Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa).

Before these, the commission will sit with the Jatiya Party (plough symbol) on 17 November. However, the EC has yet to decide which of the three factions claiming the plough symbol will retain it, sources said.

Within less than two years, two factions – one led by Raushan Ershad and another by Anisul Islam Mahmud – have split from the main group headed by GM Quader, each claiming the symbol.

The Anisul Islam Mahmud-led faction, which broke away in August, insists that "according to the party's constitution, the plough symbol rightfully belongs to us."

On the same day, the EC will also hold meetings with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Workers Party of Bangladesh (hammer symbol), Zaker Party, the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, and the Bangladesh Cultural Freedom Alliance.

Meanwhile, the EC is set to grant registration to three new political parties, including the National Citizen Party (NCP).

A public notice has been issued seeking objections to their registration claims, which can be submitted until 12 November. After resolving any objections, the EC will issue final registration certificates.

According to EC sources, the newly registered parties will be invited to join the dialogue after receiving their certificates – possibly in time for the 19 November session.

EC to conclude talks within Nov

Speaking to reporters today (11 November), EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, "The dialogue with political parties will begin on 13 November. We are finalising the list of invitees and the sequence of meetings. Our aim is to complete the discussions within this month to stay on track with our election schedule."

According to the EC, six political parties will be invited to each session, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Each party will be represented by three delegates.

The Awami League will not be invited as its political activities remain suspended, the EC confirmed.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told The Business Standard, "We will call representatives of political parties in groups. In each session, there will be 18 participants from six parties. Altogether, dialogues will be held with around 50 to 55 registered political parties."

The EC has already sent invitation letters to the 12 parties scheduled for the first day of talks.

In the morning session, the invited parties include the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Bangladesh Congress, Bangladesh Muslim League, National People's Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh.

In the afternoon, the commission will meet with the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Bangladesh Socialist Party, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF), and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM).

Md Ashadul Haque, assistant director of the EC's public relations wing, confirmed that all 12 parties have already been sent invitations.

At present, Bangladesh has 53 registered political parties. The Awami League's registration remains suspended, while three other parties have had their registration cancelled. The registration of three new parties is expected to be finalised by 15 November, according to EC sources.

The commission has previously announced that the 13th national parliamentary election will be held in the first half of February next year. The election schedule is expected to be declared in early December.

The commission has already completed most of its preparatory work and has held discussions with various stakeholders – including election experts, academics, women leaders, journalists, and civil society representatives.