They emphasised withdrawal of the ban on indoor politics for meetings in their respective party forum before having dialogue with the EC.

The AL, BNP and JP leaders also observed that the views of their parties will not be reflected if dialogue is held amid ban on politics.

The EC on Wednesday proposed that the political parties can sit for dialogue with the commission on the proposed electoral reforms despite the ban on political activities. Earlier on Tuesday, the government said the political parties can hold council despite the ban on political activities, if they want.

"If the Election Commission sits with me or four to five others of our party, then it will reflect personal rather than the party's views. What my party wants about the reforms can only be finalised through discussion in the party's Central Working Committee," AL Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed told journalists.

BNP leader Ashraf Hossain said personally anyone could sit with the EC to have dialogue. "But that won't be party's views. For party's views, decision will have to be taken through discussion in the party forum," said Ashraf, a former Whip, adding: "As there is a ban on politics, no discussion on the issue is possible in the party forum.

Talking to The Daily Star, JP Presidium Member Ziauddin Bablu also expressed similar views. He said, "If the EC sits with anyone while the ban on political activities is on, the dialogue will not be fruitful and positive."