Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) on Monday was registered as a new political party by the Election Commission (EC).
Senior Assistant Secretary Mejbah Uddin Ahmed handed over the certificate to the new party.
Chief Convener Abul Kalam Azad received the registration certificate on behalf of the party.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz on Sunday had said BNF was going to be registered as a new party as it did not receive any objection after the publication of its mass circular in this regard.
The BNF would get the television as its election symbol, the officials said.
The EC has sought applications from political parties for registration since October 23 2012.
The BNF had was given time thrice for fulfilling the EC’s registration conditions. The investigations into the party’s existence and activities were conducted by the deputy commissioners – for the first time – instead of EC officials.
Officials at the commission said 43 political parties had applied for registration, and 40 of them were disqualified by the commission for not fulfilling the conditions.
As per an order of the High Court, the Bangladesh Muslim League will also be registered. Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote was registered last month.
The main opposition BNP approached the commission for three times, urging it not to consider the BNF as a political party because, it alleged, the BNF was using the BNP’s logo, the portrait of its late founder Ziaur Rahman, and his 19-point charter to “gain political leverage.” Former BNP leader barrister Nazmul Huda also appealed to the commission not to register the BNF.