The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) extended a fresh invitation to the Election Commission (EC) through a letter to hold talks as a ‘new strategy of the government and the Election Commission’. The commission, however, decided to invite the coalitions and parties that are launching the movement together with the BNP for a dialogue. Election Commission officials said letters would be issued to these parties within a day or two.
The Election Commission is also planning to hold group talks with the ruling Awami League, other political parties and stakeholders regarding the elections. There is talk in the opposition parties that the Election Commission is starting another futile process of negotiation or it is some new strategy. Along with this, it is also being asked whether the Election Commission has decided to remove the pressure from the diplomats of America and other western countries.
After the Election Commission invited the BNP for talks on 23 March, the party’s general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir rejected the offer the next day. Speaking at a discussion on Saturday, Fakhrul said, the government letter is part of the strategy to hold another election like 2014 and 2018. The party’s highest decision-making body Standing Committee will discuss the issue in a meeting today. Party leaders said they would reply to the letter as per the decision taken in the meeting.