The visiting Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey held a meeting with Jatiya Party Chairman and former foreign minister Anisul Islam Mahmud to discuss the party’s preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The meeting took place on Sunday evening at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.

Jatiya Party Secretary-General and former minister ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, along with the party chairman’s Special Envoy for International Affairs and presidium member Mashroor Mowla, were present at the meeting.

A five-member Commonwealth delegation accompanied the Secretary-General, said a press release.

During the discussion, JaPa chairman informed the secretary-general that a level playing field for elections does not yet exist in Bangladesh.

He said the administration is divided, mob culture persists, and false cases filed against Jatiya Party leaders have not been withdrawn.

Additionally, many party leaders have been restricted from travelling abroad without clear justification, he said.

He added that unless the false cases against Jatiya Party leaders are withdrawn and the travel bans are lifted before the election, JaPa will not participate in the upcoming national polls.

Speaking to the media, the party chairman’s Special Envoy for International Affairs and presidium member Mashroor Mowla said the Commonwealth secretary general asked whether the Jatiya Party would contest the election.

In response, Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud reiterated that Jatiya Party is fundamentally an election-oriented party and remains prepared for elections.

However, he emphasised that the current situation in the country is not conducive to holding free and fair elections.