EC leaves letter for dialogue at locked BNP office

The Election Commission's letter for polls dialogues addressing BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is now in jail, could not be delivered as the party's central office was under lock and key.

The messenger of the letter returned after waiting for two hours in front of the BNP office in Nayapaltan on Thursday.

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The commission also sent letters to 43 other registered political parties, inviting them to attend dialogues on 4 November over the 12th parliamentary election.

EC Public Relations Director Md Shariful Alam sent the letters.

According to EC sources, the letter was sent to BNP's Nayapaltan central office through an official of the commission at 10am on Thursday.

Contacted by the election commission officials, BNP leaders refused to receive the letter and said the party will not accept any letter or invitation from the Election Commission at this moment. So the EC official returned after waiting two hours, they said.

In its letter to BNP, the EC said it has a constitutional obligation to hold the next election between 31 October and 28 January as the term of the current 11th parliament will end. 

The letter also requested the BNP to send two of its representatives to the dialogue.

The commission has organised the meeting on 4 November to discuss matters related to the upcoming election, including the preparation.

The dialogue will be presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal. Other commissioners will also be present.

According to EC officials, it intends to hold a meeting with 22 political parties, including the ruling Awami League, at 10:00am on 4 November. 

It wants another meeting with the remaining 22 registered political parties, including the BNP, at 3:00pm that day. 

'Mockery in the name of dialogue' 

Regarding EC's letter, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told The Business Standard, "The current fascist government has locked the BNP office after carrying out a planned attack on 28 October. No one is going to the office in fear of being arrested."

Meanwhile, speaking at a virtual press briefing yesterday, the BNP leader said their Nayapaltan central office remained deserted for 4/5 days as no one, including its staff members, were allowed to enter there.

"Office assistants are not going to the office due to police blockade. Our Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been arrested, many leaders are now in jail or in hiding in fear of arrest. So, who will receive the letter sent by the EC representative?" he said.

"Are you (EC) joking with people in the name of dialogue as eyewash? They (EC) are going to stage this mockery and farce in the name of dialogue as per the directive of the government," he added. 

Rizvi also said the EC sent a letter to the BNP office for the dialogue to just make a joke.

"All BNP leaders and workers are living in fear and a vehicle of the crime scene unit has been placed in front of the party office," he said.