Talks on ec formation: JSD (Rob) turns down invite

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob) yesterday became the latest political party to reject President Abdul Hamid's invitation to a dialogue on the formation of the Election Commission.

Earlier, five more political parties -- BNP, Liberal Democratic Party, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal -- also rejected the dialogue, terming the initiative "meaningless".

It is the first time since 2012 that political parties have refused the president's invitation on holding the dialogues on formation of the EC.

JSD president ASM Abdur Rob yesterday revealed the party's decision not to join the dialogue at a press conference at his residence in the capital's Uttara.

In the briefing, Rob said that formation of EC is not a solution for holding a free and fair elections.

"Considering the reality, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal is not participating in the President's dialogue," he said. "The dialogue has to be on process of formation of a national government for holding a free and fair election and to establish rule of law."

The JSD chief said the current Election Commission was appointed by the president. But this commission has been biased and betrayed the nation by destroying the electoral system.