The High Court on Thursday issued a Rule Nisi, calling upon the Election Commission (EC) to explain why their decision to refuse registration of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) as a political party should not be declared unlawful and unconstitutional.
A High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Showkat Ali Chowdhury passed the order.
The order also questioned the Election Commission on why the AB Party should not be registered as a political party.
The chief election commissioner, secretary and deputy secretary of the Election Commission have been granted four weeks to respond to the rule before the High Court decides to hear the matter in-depth and make a decision on its merit.
AB Party Joint Convener and Supreme Court Advocate Tajul Islam acted as the lead counsel.
Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun, office affairs secretary, and Barrister Zubair Ahmed Bhuiyan, joint member secretary of the AB Party, were also engaged in the preparation for this rule hearing.
The AB Party submitted its application for electoral registration in October 2022.
As part of the requirements, they provided documents from 23 district committees, seven metropolitan city committees, and 104 upazila committees.
Election Commission officials inspected the party offices nationwide. However, the Election Commission rejected the application for electoral registration based on what was described as "flimsy grounds" in a letter dated July 24, 2024.
The letter vaguely stated that documents and party offices related to 79 of the 104 upazila committees were inadequately represented.
The Election Commission did not specify which ones were lacking clarity or ask for additional documentation.
Advocate Tajul Islam argued that the Election Commission acted unfairly and, in doing so, violated the relevant laws and rules of political party registration.
He added that the Election Commission granted registration to entities that are not even active political parties.
