President likely to hold dialogue with political parties from Sunday or Monday

President M Abdul Hamid is likely to start dialogue with the registered political parties from Sunday or Monday to constitute an independent, neutral and acceptable Election Commission (EC). "The President will hold dialogue with the political parties from Sunday or Monday . . . to form an independent election commission ahead of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad polls," President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told to media Tuesday evening.  He said the head of the state will hold talks with the opposition parties of the parliament -- Jatiya Party on the first day and subsequent dialogues will be held gradually with some 31 political parties registered with the EC.

Preparation to hold the dialogue is going on in full swing as Bangabhaban has a plan to end the talks within the shortest possible time, the Bangabhaban spokesman added. The President is likely to hold dialogue with more than one political party a day and Bangabhaban is working on it. Abedin said dialogue is likely to be held with the ruling party Awami League in between the talks.

Earlier, talks were held with different political parties prior to the ninth, 10th and 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) parliamentary elections. In line with the Constitution, the President has the authority to appoint a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and more than four Election Commissioners (ECs) to conduct the national polls. In the last few terms, the President formed the EC based on the  recommendation of the 'Search Committee'. During this period, the President will form a new EC, which will help conduct the 12th parliamentary polls.