Staff Reporter :
The Election Commission (EC) has moved to wrap up the registration of new political parties within this month, ahead of the upcoming 13th national elections.
“All field-level reports on 22 aspiring political parties have already reached the EC secretariat,” EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters on Tuesday.
He noted that, as per the roadmap, the registration process will be completed by September 30.
“We are currently compiling the information, which will be submitted to the commission by tomorrow. After that, the commission will make its final decision,” he added.
On the matter of symbol allocation, Ahmed said the proposal for amending the rules on electoral symbols is still pending approval at the law ministry.
He explained that registration can be granted without delay, but the allocation of symbols might take longer. “Our preference is to issue registration and symbols together, so that new political parties can enter the election process on equal footing,” he said. Initially, 143 political parties applied to the EC for registration to contest in the 13th parliamentary polls. Of them, 121 applications were rejected during the primary screening.
The EC has since officially notified the rejected parties through individual letters.
The remaining 22 parties are awaiting registration. They include: National Citizens Party (NCP), Forward Party, Aam Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Party (BGP), Bangladesh Sanskarbadi Party (BRP), Bangladesh Nejame Islam Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Moulik Bangla, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Jatiya Janata Party, Janatar Dal, Janata Party Bangladesh, Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party, Bangladesh Jatiya League, Bhashani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parisad, Bangladesh Communist Party (Marxist) CPB (M), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD–Shahjahan Siraj), Jamiate Ulama-e-Islam, Nejame Islam Party, Bangladesh Bekar Samaj (BABES), Bangladesh Solution Party, and Notun Bangladesh Party.
The EC secretary further stated that after thorough verification of field-level reports, the commission will cross-check each application with due diligence before making its final decision.
“If the new political parties receive registration and electoral symbols in time, they will face no barriers to participating in the 13th national elections,” he assured.
