Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) has announced the registration process for new political parties ahead of the 13th National Parliament elections, inviting applications until April 20.
In a public notice issued Monday, the EC stated that applications must adhere to the Political Party Registration Rules, 2008, and Article 90A of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.
Parties must submit key documents, including their constitution, funding details, and evidence of electoral participation or organizational strength. A non-refundable registration fee of Tk 5,000 is required.
To qualify, parties must meet at least one of three criteria: winning a parliamentary seat in any past election, securing at least 5 per cent of votes in contested constituencies, or demonstrating an active organizational presence in at least one-third of districts and 100 upazilas.
Since the introduction of party registration in 2008, 54 parties have received EC recognition, though some, including Jamaat-e-Islami, had their registrations revoked.
Following the July Uprising that ousted the Awami League government, the EC registered four new parties while lifting restrictions on Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated groups.
Following the fall of the Awami League government during the July Uprising, the EC registered AB Party, Nurul Haq Nur’s Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), Mahmudur Rahman’s Nagorik Oikya, and Ganosamhati Andolon.
However, five parties – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Freedom Party, Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolon, PDP, and Jatiya Ganotantrik Party – JAGPA – later had their registrations cancelled due to failure to meet conditions or by court order.
On 1 September last year, Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Manir submitted a petition for restoration of the appeal against Jamaat’s registration cancellation to the apex court on behalf of the party’s Secretary General Miah Golam Parwar, seeking necessary directives.
On 1 August 2013, the High Court pronounced the verdict cancelling the registration of Jamaat as a political party. The EC issued a circular in this regard on 7 December 2018.
Later, Jamaat lawyers appealed against the verdict, which got “dismissed for default” by a six-member bench headed by then chief justice Obaidul Hassan due to the absence of Jamaat’s chief lawyer during the appeal hearing on 19 November 2023.
As a result, the verdict that cancelled the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami remained in force.
On 22 October last year, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court restored the Jamaat-e-Islami’s appeal.
Currently, 49 political parties remain registered with the EC.
