EC falls behind schedule, final decisions on party registration expected next week
The EC, under AMM Nasir Uddin, invited applications from new parties on 10 March 2025. Following an extension, 143 parties submitted applications by 22 June. After preliminary scrutiny, 121 applications were rejected, leaving 22 for further field verification.
Highlights:
- Gazette announcing approved parties delayed since 22 September
- 143 applications received, 121 rejected, 22 under review
- EC to sit again to discuss 'Shapla' issue and NCP approval
The Election Commission (EC) is struggling to keep pace in registering new political parties ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, seven months after issuing a notice for party registration in March.
According to the EC's roadmap, the gazette announcing approved new parties was expected by 22 September, but the process remains incomplete. The commission has indicated that a final decision will be made within the coming week.
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The EC, under AMM Nasir Uddin, invited applications from new parties on 10 March 2025. Following an extension, 143 parties submitted applications by 22 June. After preliminary scrutiny, 121 applications were rejected, leaving 22 for further field verification.
On 30 September, the EC announced that the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Bangladesh National League had fulfilled the requirements for registration.
However, the registration of NCP remains on hold due to complications over its claim to the Shapla (water lily) symbol. The EC has said it will issue a gazette once the symbol dispute is resolved.
Meanwhile, the National League has faced scrutiny following complaints from NCP, which questioned the party's central office, constitution, leadership recognition, and grassroots activity. In response, the EC has reopened investigations.
Under the ongoing review, the EC has instructed 10 additional parties to submit field-level verification reports within a week. These include Amjanatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Party (BGP), Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Unemployed Liberation Council, Jontor Dal, Moulik Bangla, Janta Party Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Aam jonogon Party.
Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told The Business Standard that the EC had reached the final stage of registration, but media reports prompted additional verification. "We are reviewing and re-investigating all reports and will make a final decision within a week," he said.
The Shapla symbol dispute remains unresolved for NCP. The EC had instructed the party to select an alternative from the official symbol list by 19 October, failing which the commission would allocate a symbol at its discretion.
NCP reapplied for the Shapla symbol on the deadline. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the commission will now determine whether to uphold the previous decision or take a new one.
The EC has indicated that the new parliamentary elections are expected before Ramadan next year, with the election schedule likely to be announced in the first half of December.
Meanwhile, representatives of Moulik Bangla and Bangladesh Justice and Development Party held a press conference on 21 October outside the EC media centre, alleging that prioritising NCP had deliberately slowed the registration of other parties. They urged the EC to issue registration certificates based on previous field reports rather than extending further investigations.
