The Election Commission (EC) will send letters to 40 disqualified new political parties giving them another chance to fulfil the requirements for EC registration to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The new political parties will have to fulfil the requirements and reply to the EC within 15 days, Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said Monday.
EC officials said the EC has already registered Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) on the basis of a High Court order. Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote (BSM) failed to fulfil all the requirements, but the EC is investigating their organisational structures in the field level.
The officials also said the EC would complete new political party registrations within June.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad Monday said the EC has decided to send letters to the new political parties who applied for registration, giving them one more chance to fulfil the requirements.
The disqualified parties are: Bangladesh Jalali Party, Bangladesh People’s Democratic Party, Bangladesh New Sangsad League, Bangladesh Awami Party (NAP Bhashani), Bangladesh Jatiya League, Muktijoddha Communism Democratic Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, Gono-Odhikar Party, Bangladesh Gonoseba Andolon, Bangladesh Janata Dal, Bangladesh Probashi Dal, Bangladesh Trinomul League, Bangladesh Anjuman Al Islam, Gonotantrik Islamic Movement, Mukto Rajnoitik Andolon, Jatiya Muktijoddha Gonotantrik Oikya Front, Bangladesh Islamic Party, Jomiyot-e Ulamaye Islam and Nezami Islamic Party, Bangladesh People’s League, Public Party, Bangladesh Jonogonotantrik Dal, Matribhumi Dal, Bangladesh Gono-Odhikar Dal, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party, Bangladesh Gonoshakti Dal, Bangladesh Baam Front, Janata Mahajote Bangladesh, Sammilito Gonotantrik Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Hindu League, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal, Bangladesh Minority Party, Bangladesh Communist Party, Bangladesh Red Star Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Krishak Sramik Party, Democratic People’s Party, Bangladesh Gesnariyas Party, and National Awami Party (NAP) Bhashani.
On October 23 last year the EC issued a mass circular, seeking applications for registration.
According to section 90(B) of the Representation of the People Order, for registering with the EC a party must have a central committee, committees in at least 21 districts and at least 200 members in at least 100 upazilas.