The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday began discussions with registered political parties to give them information about preparations for the 12th parliamentary elections.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Qazi Habibul Awal is presiding over the discussion at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The BNP and several of its allies, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Biplobi Workers Party, Bangladesh Kalyan Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), have decided not to participate in the discussions.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), which is not in any alliance, is also boycotting the EC talks. Islamic Movement Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis and Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis are among the Islamic parties boycotting the talks.
13 registered political parties have joined the discussion while three are not participating. Meanwhile, the three parties did not inform the Commission whether they would participate in it or not. Republic Party was not invited for discussion.