BNP gets invitation, won't join dialogue

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has received the invitation letter from President Abdul Hamid for joining a dialogue at Bangabhaban on January 12 next to discuss about the formation of a new Election Commission (EC).

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday night confirmed about receiving the invitation letter. However, he said BNP has not changed its position regarding joining the dialogue.
Fakhrul said, "We have received a letter from Bangabhaban today (Wednesday) about joining the President's dialogue. However, our stand over dialogue has not changed. Certainly, we will not join the dialogue."

BNP said the dialogue for formation of a new EC is 'meaningless' keeping the demand of an election-time non-party government unresolved.

The party's standing committee at a meeting on December 27 last year decided not to join the dialogue with President, saying that the talks will not yield any positive outcome.

So far, five political parties--BNP, Liberal Democratic Party, CPB, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and Islami Andolon Bangladesh--have rejected the dialogue with the President. Leaders of these political parties said not a single recommendation of them was accepted by the President though they attended two previous dialogues for formation of the ECs.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hamid invited nine more political parties to the dialogue.

The President has so far invited 27 political parties, according to the Bangabhaban Press Wing.

Tenure of KM Nurul Huda-led Election Commission will expire on February 14.

The president will have to form the new EC before the tenure of the incumbent Election Commission ends, according to the constitution.