The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged the Election Commission (EC) to refrain from reforming a new political party registration law until the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
BNP came up with the demand in a letter sent to the commission informing it about the party's stance over the draft of the Political Party Registration Act, 2020.
A BNP delegation led by the party's Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal disclosed the matter in a press briefing after meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda at its secretariat on Wednesday.
Alal said: “The Election Commission has nefarious intentions and wants to reform political parties registration law so that the commission can bring a certain party to power again in national elections under one-party government - whether the people accept it or not.”
Under the existing law, any party can participate if they get a seat in the national election held since independence.
But according to the draft political party registrations law, the registration of a political party may be cancelled, if the political party fails to secure a seat in the parliamentary election for two consecutive terms.
The BNP leader said: “We have strongly condemned and protested. Although we did not give an opinion to EC regarding the matter, we submitted a letter and said that it is not appropriate time to form such a law when the country is facing a pandemic.”
The BNP leader said his party will take their next step regarding the matter soon.
BNP leaders Harunur Rashid, MP, Barrister Kaisar Kamal, and Mosharraf Hossain were among members of the delegation.
Regarding the draft law, the BNP leader said although the proposals and orders seem good, but now is not the time.
Previously, the commission had issued a circular on June 16 to remove all kinds of foreign language under the Representation of the People Order, 1972, and reform a new registration law of political parties.
According to the circular, Election Commission urged the political party and citizens so that they can give their opinions within 7 July.
