Breaking with its own plan and past practice, the Election Commission abruptly ended its ongoing dialogue without meeting at least seven registered political parties, many of them long-time allies of the Awami League over the past 15 years.

This came despite the EC's electoral working plan, announced in August, which had pledged discussions with all registered parties ahead of the polls.

The parties left out of the talks are the Jatiya Party, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Bangladesher Shamyobadi Dal, Ganatantri Party, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, and Jatiya Party-JP.

Forty-seven parties participated in the dialogue that began on November 13. Officials confirmed last night that the talks had ended, noting that one invited party did not attend.

"The first phase of our talks with political parties concluded today [yesterday]," Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker told this newspaper.

Asked whether the excluded parties would be invited later, he said, "We will take decisions regarding those parties at a later stage," offering no further clarity.

Another election commissioner said the talks with the remaining parties may not take place at all, as objections were being raised from several quarters.

On May 12, the government banned all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, alleging killings, genocide, crimes against humanity and other grave offences during the July uprising.

Hours later, the EC suspended the party's registration.

Officials noted that since 2008, ahead of each national election, the EC had followed a consistent process -- inviting registered political parties to discuss the electoral roadmap, the Representation of the People Order, 1972, and the code of conduct for candidates and parties.

Between July 17 and 31, 2022, the commission held dialogues with 28 political parties to prepare its working plan for the 12th parliamentary election held on January 7, 2024.

The BNP and eight other opposition parties boycotted those talks, saying they did not believe the EC could ensure a free, fair, and participatory vote.

In 2017, the EC sat with all 39 registered political parties from August 28 to November 19 ahead of the December 30, 2018 polls.

In 2007, it held talks with 17 parties between September 12 and November 11 ahead of the December 29, 2008 election.