Faction of Islami Oikya Jote removed from EC dialogue after failing to show invitation letter
One group, led by Mufti Abul Hasanat Amini, was asked to leave at the start of the meeting at the EC conference room in Agargaon around 10:30am.
A faction of the Islami Oikya Jote was removed from a scheduled dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) today (16 November) after it failed to produce the required invitation letter.
One group, led by Mufti Abul Hasanat Amini, was asked to leave at the start of the meeting at the EC conference room in Agargaon around 10:30am.
The other faction, led by Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Razi, continued with the dialogue after presenting its invitation letter.
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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, senior EC officials and representatives from six political parties were present.
Although the dialogue was scheduled to begin at 10:30am, party representatives had already taken their seats.
A few minutes before the session started, the delegation led by Sakhawat Hossain Razi arrived.
He described the faction led by Hasanat Amini, who had already taken their seats, as "cohorts of fascism."
He said they had supported the previous government by taking part in one-sided elections, including the 2024 polls, and declared that his faction would not remain in the room if the other faction stayed.
At that stage, Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed asked both groups to show their invitation letters. While Razi's faction produced the document, the faction led by Hasanat Amini could not provide a hard copy.
Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed then asked the group to leave if they could not present the invitation letter.
The faction subsequently departed, and the dialogue began with the remaining delegation.
During the session, Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Razi said the other faction had occupied the party's central office prior to 5 August to serve their own interests and later went into hiding.
He said his faction reorganised the party and has been taking part in discussions on constitutional reform, the Consensus Commission and other processes, maintaining regular communication with the EC.
He added that seeing the other faction present at the dialogue without authorisation was "unwanted" and urged the EC to ensure appropriate action.
The EC had been scheduled to meet 12 political parties in two sessions on Sunday as part of its ongoing dialogue with registered parties ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election.
