Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed on Thursday signed off on the gazette notification cancelling the registration of Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolan.
The gazzette will be published within a few days, said Election Commission Deputy Secretary Abdul Halim Khan.
Earlier, Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin said the Commission had resolved to cancel the registration of Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolan as the party failed to submit its charter despite multiple notifications.
“In a move to monitor whether political parties of the country are carrying out activities as per their charters, the Election Commission asked them to submit necessary documents. 38 of the 40 registered parties submitted their documents on time, but Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolan and Gono Forum have not submitted their documents to the Commission,” Helaluddin told the Dhaka Tribune.
Gono Forum is also at risk of losing its registration for the same reason, he added.
“Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain sought six months’ time to submit his party’s charter, but the commission asked the party to submit it within three months, saying its registration will be revoked if the charter is not submitted within the period,” he said.
"Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolan did not respond to the Election Commission’s notifications."
Deputy Secretary Abdul Halim Khan said Nagorik Andolan’s registration has been cancelled today. "We sent notice several times, but they [Nagorik Andolan] did not respond to us."
The party was registered on November 16, 2008, with a key as its symbol. The party did not participate in the 10th national election. During the ninth election, 11 candidates participated and got 0.01% votes. There is no record of participation during the eighth general election.
The parties, Bangladesh Muslim League-BML and Khelafat Majlish, did not participate in the last two general elections. In this regard both the parties have violated registration conditions.
The party, Bangladesh Muslim League-BML, whose symbol is a hand, was registered on June 2, 2013. They did not participate in the ninth or 10th general elections.
Khelafat Majlish got their registration on November 22, 2008, before the ninth election. But they did not participate in either the ninth or the 10th general elections.
According to the RPO 90H-(e)-if a political party does not participate in the national elections for two consecutive terms the registration of the party will be cancelled.
On whether the commission is going to cancel the registration of both parties, Halim Khan said: "We will not start the process of canceling the registration for the other two parties now as the election is knocking on the door.
"The Election Commission will give consideration this time. But the Election Commission cancelled the registration of Oikkoboddho Nagorik Andolon because we had started the process ahead of time."
The Dhaka Tribune repeatedly tried to contact Nagorik Andolan Chairman Dr Kazi Farooq for his remarks, but he did not respond to the phone calls.
Earlier, Matiur Rahman, treasurer of the party, said he did not know anything about the Election Commission’s move. They were supposed to hold a meeting with the Commission in July.
But on Thursday, Abdul Halim said no one contacted them on behalf of the party.
As of 2008, a total of 42 parties were registered with the Election Commission. In 2009, the Commission canceled the registration of the Freedom Party as it failed to submit its amended charter.
In 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration illegal and unlawful, as many provisions of its charter ran counter to the country’s constitution and Representation of the People Order (RPO).
In 2012, Bangladesh Nationalist Front and Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote registered with the Commission as new political parties.
