Jatiya Party (JP) led by Anwar Hossain Manju MP on Monday told  President Abdul Hamid that the party wanted the next Election Commission to be formed under a law provided by the constitution.

A seven-member delegation headed Manju held talks with the president at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban, Jaynal Abedin, press secretary the president told UNB.

The delegation said the EC must get proper cooperation from the executive bodies of the government for holding a free and fair election.

READ: Electoral system in Bangladesh collapsed: GM Quader

However, it said respected acceptable personalities should be included instead of relying on bureaucrats if the president goes for selecting a search committee for EC.

Welcoming the delegation at Bangabhaban, the President Hamid said that the views and suggestions of the political parties are very important in forming an acceptable Election Commission. 

Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary to the President Md. Joynal Abedin were also present on the occasion.

President Hamid opened the dialogue on formation of the next EC on December 20. The current EC is scheduled to end its five-year term in February next.

So far  18 of 32 political parties who were invited in phases joined the talks while six did not participate in the talks.

According to Bangabhaban press wing, the other parties invited for the dialogue are -   Islami Front Bangladesh and Bangladesh National Awami Party on January 11, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( BNP) and National People's Party ( NPP) on January 12 Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Jaker Party and Bangladesh Jatiya Party on January 13 and Bangladesh Awami League on January 17.

READ: Dialogue before EC formation just a mockery, says BNP

The country has now 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament.

The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.