A record 147 political parties have submitted applications to the Election Commission (EC) for registration ahead of the upcoming national election, as the official deadline ended Sunday with no extension in sight.
The high number of applicants—more than double the total registered parties at present—has drawn attention amid rising political activity and growing public interest in new political alternatives.
EC officials told Dhaka Tribune that no applications will be accepted beyond the deadline and that the preliminary scrutiny of submitted documents will now begin immediately.
They said the record number of interested parties reflects a changing political landscape ahead of the polls, though the road to final approval remains long and uncertain for many.
According to the EC’s Election Support Branch, 65 parties had applied by the original deadline of April 20 and now total 147.
Following appeals from several parties—including the National Citizen Party (NCP)—the EC extended the submission period by one and a half months.
The NCP and several others used this extended timeframe to file their applications on Sunday.
The NCP, a new political platform formed by student leaders who played a prominent role in the July uprising, formally applied for registration, mentioning three preferred election symbols. The party expressed strong hope that it will receive the water lily symbol.
A delegation led by Akhtar Hossain, the party’s member secretary, submitted the application to the EC.
Speaking to reporters after submission, Akhtar said: “We have submitted all documents in compliance with the registration requirements. We have requested that "Shapla" be allotted as the NCP’s electoral symbol.”
Nasiruddin Patwari, the NCP’s chief coordinator, added that the party also listed the pen and the mobile phone as alternative symbols, but remains optimistic about securing "Shapla".
“Under the National Consensus and Reform Commission’s proposed 400 constituencies, we believe the NCP can win at least 300 seats and form the government,” Nasir said, predicting a sweeping electoral victory for the party under the water lily symbol.
According to the Political Party Registration Act, a political party must meet several conditions to qualify for registration: a functioning central committee, effective district committees in at least one-third of the country’s districts, and active upazila-level committees in at least 100 upazilas or equivalent units.
Additionally, parties may qualify if any of their candidates were previously elected as MPs, or if they secured at least 5% of the total valid votes in any previous parliamentary election.
EC sources said that 50 political parties are currently registered with the commission.
Since the fall of the Awami League government, several new parties have received registration—most notably the Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), AB Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad (led by Nurul Haque Nur), Nagorik Oikko (led by Mahmudur Rahman), and Ganosamhati Andolon.
However, most of these parties were granted registration only after legal battles spanning five to six years and subsequent court orders.
The system of political party registration was introduced in 2008, ahead of the ninth parliamentary election.
Since then, 55 parties have been registered.
However, the EC later cancelled the registration of five parties—Jamaat-e-Islami, Freedom Party, Oikyaboddha Nagorik Andolon, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA)—either for failing to meet legal requirements or based on court directives.
In recent developments, court rulings have reportedly reinstated the registrations of Jamaat-e-Islami and JAGPA, but the EC has yet to issue any official gazette notification confirming these reinstatements.
