DHAKA, Aug 1, 2023 (BSS) - Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today said political parties should sit at a table to resolve crisis and create environment for holding next general elections peacefully.

He made the remark after a meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas at the Election Commission office.

“We have told them (US envoy) and they believe that political parties need dialogues. Without dialogues political crisis would not be resolved on streets,” the CEC told journalists after the meeting.

He said, “The commission thought that political parties should sit at a table and take tea together. Then they would try to resolve crisis through discussions.”

Habibul Awal said a favorable environment is needed for the elections, adding, “The crisis is political. It has nothing to do with our work. If these problems are resolved politically, it will be very comfortable for us to hold elections.” 

“The commission expects that many issues discussed in the political arena need to be resolved at all costs. We want stability to return. The next election will be held in a stable environment,” he added.

The US Ambassador after the meeting said to journalists, “I have informed the CEC that the US will send a pre-election monitoring team. The team will have some experts including representatives of national democratic institute and international republic institute. They have experiences about election observation and preparation.”

Expressing the US interest in free, fair and peaceful elections, he said they want that the people of Bangladesh can vote and elect their representatives.

The CEC and the US envoy discussed about last amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and new party registration and other issues.

During the meeting, EC Ahsan Habib Khan and EC secretary Jahangir Alam were present.