The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday began its long-awaited dialogue with registered political parties, pledging to play a completely neutral role in the forthcoming 13th national election and seeking the cooperation of all political actors to ensure a credible vote.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the talks at the EC Secretariat in the capital's Agargaon, describing the event as part of a wider effort to build consensus and transparency in the electoral process.
On the opening day, 12 parties joined the discussions - six in the morning session and six in the afternoon.
"There are 54 registered political parties, and all are equal to us. There are no big or small ones," said the CEC, who presided over the meeting attended by other election commissioners, including Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaulla, Tahmida Ahmed, M Anwarul Islam Sarker, and EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
"You are the players in the election; we are the referees. Without your cooperation, the referee cannot manage the game. If the main players do not cooperate, the game itself will come under question," Nasir told party leaders.
He further cautioned that anyone disregarding electoral rules might invite confrontation, adding, "We do not want any conflict. We never want to face anybody. We want to move ahead with all."
Highlighting the "special situation" under the interim government, the CEC said the commission was already under "tremendous pressure", particularly as discussions were underway about a possible referendum.
"This election is different from the ones held before. Therefore, we need several times more cooperation from the political parties than ever," he said.
He explained that the dialogue had been delayed intentionally to avoid overlapping with consultations by the National Consensus Commission and the reform commissions.
"Parallel discussions with the same parties could have created confusion," he noted, adding that the EC had agreed with many reform recommendations and commented on others.
The dialogue is being conducted based on an 11-point agenda, which includes ensuring equal opportunities for all parties, strict enforcement of the electoral code of conduct, and signing undertakings with candidates and returning officers.
Other issues include introducing out-of-country and in-country postal voting, curbing misinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in campaigns, preventing communal incitement, and banning the political use of religious institutions.
The EC also emphasised the need to counter AI-generated videos that could attack opponents or inflame gender or religious sentiments.
The EC secretary, in his introductory remarks, called for "constructive and practical suggestions" from parties to help refine the commission's action plan before the electoral schedule was announced.
Leaders of the participating parties urged the EC to ensure the highest security in every polling centre and maintain a strictly neutral role.
They called for firm action against vote rigging, curbs on the use of money and muscle power, and enforcement of spending limits.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) representatives urged the EC to prove its impartiality through actions rather than statements.
Bangladesh Congress and the Bangladesh Muslim League called for strict monitoring of vote counting and ballot box security.
The National People's Party demanded the EC guarantee a level playing field, while Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh sought assurances that the polls would remain free from religious bias and violence.
Representatives from left-leaning parties, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), and Biplobi Workers Party, urged reforms in campaign financing and tighter oversight of electoral expenditures.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) demanded stronger measures to prevent intimidation and ensure equal media access for smaller parties.
The CEC expressed frustration over the proliferation of posters across Dhaka despite a commission ban.
"We have declared posters illegal. Yet, the city is filled with them. Those who have put them up should take them down. Once the election schedule is announced, we will take stern action," he warned.
He also called the growing misuse of social media a "great peril", cautioning that fabricated content could undermine the electoral process.
"The code of conduct has been published. Please behave accordingly," the CEC reminded party representatives.
The dialogues began at 10:00am and continued till 4:00pm in two sessions.
The EC is expected to hold similar consultations with other registered parties in the coming days as part of its ongoing effort to finalise a consensus framework for free, fair, and participatory elections.
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