EU team for polls with consensus

A visiting European parliamentary delegation sees no point in holding an early election unless all political parties take part. Jean Lambert, leader of a four-member cross-party delegation, said in a media meet on Monday that they still stood by the resolution adopted by the European Parliament after the January 5 national elections in Bangladesh. The EU did not find the polls credible, as more than half the seats returned winners uncontested after the main opposition comprising the BNP and its allies boycotted the polls. The resolution suggested that political parties arrive at a consensus to give the Bangladeshi people a chance to make their democratic choice. "We need a situation where voices of all the people can be heard in politics," Lambert said, repeating the call for a dialogue among political parties. She said everything should be on the table during the discussion including the possibility of an early election "if all legitimate political parties are willing to participate", according to bdnews24.com.