EC wants registered parties' financial reports by Jul 31

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday asked all registered political parties to submit a report each on their individual annual income and expenditure by July 31. A letter issued by the EC instructed 40 registered political parties of the country to submit their audit report of 2016. All the parties have required to submit the yearly report by July 31 every year, according to the  Representation of People Order (RPO). The commission's Assistant Secretary Rowshon Ara said: “As there is a provision in the RPO to submit a copy of transaction, audited by a registered chartered accounting firm, of the previous calendar year, all the parties are bound to do so. Hence, we have asked them comply with the rule within the deadline.” The letter sent to all the parties reads that the audit firms and appropriate authority will have to detail the information on income and spending of the parties in a prescribed format along with the seal or signature of the authorities or person concerned. EC Secretary Mohammad Abdullah said registration of the parties that will not submit the report for the third consecutive year will be cancelled. However, there is an option for the parties to extend time to submit their reports. “In order to do so, a party will have to file a petition seeking additional time immediately after it fails to meet the deadline,” the EC official added. It has been a common phenomenon that the main parties seek time extension to submit their financial reports. Last year, they did the same, submitting the report of the previous calendar year in August. The ruling Awami league, in its last three years' audit reports, showed its income was more than their expenditure. But, BNP showed spending exceeded its income over the period. In another development, the EC urged the parties to ensure 33% women's representation at their central committees.