Dhaka: The President’s Office invited six more political parties for the second phase of talks with President Abdul Hamid on the formation of the new Election Commission (EC).

‘Invitation letters were sent to the office addresses of the six political parties on Tuesday’ said President’s Press secretary Joynal Abedin.

According to the Press Secretary, President Abdul Hamid will hold talks with Worker’s Party on 27 December, Bangladesh Nationalist Front and Islami Oikya Jote on December 29, Jatiya Party (Manju) on 2 January next year and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) on 3 January.

President Hamid initiated the formal talks with political parties about the EC formation with holding discussions with BNP on Sunday. He also held a meeting with Jatiya Party today (Tuesday).

The president is also scheduled to hold talks with Liberal Democratic Party and Krishak Sramik Janata League on 21 December at about 3:00pm and 4:30pm respectively.

He took the dialogue initiative as the tenure of the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC expires in February next.

Earlier, the President’s Office on 12 December sent letters to the five political parties in this regard.

Meanwhile, the President’s Office rescheduled talks with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal following a request from the party as its president Hasanul Haq Inu, also the Information Minister, will stay abroad at that time on an official visit.

‘Now the discussion with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal will be held on December 26 instead of 22 December,’ Joynal added.

He also said the President will hold talks with other political parties in phases.

An official at Bangabhaban said the talks will continue till Mid-January next year and discussion with ruling Awami League will be held in the second week of January.