United News of Bangladesh

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday (November 16) sought cooperation from political parties to create a safe environment for voters during the national election to be held in early February 2026. “We need your support in bringing voters to the polling stations and creating a safe environment,” he said while presiding over a dialogue with six registered political parties at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. The discussion began at 10:30 am as part of the Commission’s ongoing electoral dialogue with political parties ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. “We want your suggestions on how we can deliver a free and fair election and ensure a level playing field for all.” The CEC said the Election Commission has already formulated a code of conduct for the upcoming election. “A fair election largely depends on the proper implementation of the code of conduct. If candidates comply with it properly, the election will be fair. In this regard, we seek your cooperation.” Nasir Uddin said the Commission’s main objective is to hold the next election in a fair, acceptable environment. “To achieve this, we need your cooperation,” he said. Read more: EC to sit with 12 more political parties on Sunday The six political parties that joined the talks are Gonoforum, Gono Front, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Islami Oikyajote, Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP) and Bangladesh Jatiya Party. The Commission will hold another discussion with six other political parties in the afternoon (2pm to 4pm) on Sunday. The six other parties invited for the afternoon session are Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Bangladesh Jasod, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Trinomul BNP, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Earlier, on Thursday, the EC opened its much-talked-about pre-election dialogue with registered political parties by holding two separate discussions with 12 registered political parties – six parties in the morning and six others in the afternoon. The 12 parties were Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Bangladesh Congress, Bangladesh Muslim League, National People's Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh Communist Party of Bangladesh-CPB, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basod, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Front-BNF and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement-BNM. Read more: EC awaits formal govt request for its opinion on referendum: CEC The Commission, however, has not announced yet the times for discussions with BNP and Jamaat. Currently, there are 53 registered political parties, excluding the Awami League, whose registration remains suspended. Besides, the EC recognised three new parties, including NCP, as registered parties. The Commission aims to complete the dialogue with all registered political parties within this month before the announcement of the national election schedule in early December. In late September 2025, the Commission opened a series of electoral dialogues with different stakeholders amid talks with civil society representatives on September 28. Later, the EC held separate dialogues with the representatives of teachers, senior journalists from different media outlets, election experts and election observers. Read more: Want to act as real referee in election: CEC Nasir