High Court halts process of registering new political parties
In a public notice issued on 10 March, the EC invited applications from new parties interested in participating in the elections
The High Court today (17 March) halted the registration process for new political parties in response to a writ petition filed citing several issues in the Election Commission's requirements for registering a political party.
The bench of Justice Akram Hossain Chowdhury gave the order to stay the public notice of the Election Commission (EC) which urged new political parties to register in preparation for the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections.
At the same time, the High Court has issued a rule asking why this public notice should not be declared illegal, confirmed Advocate Hasnat Kaium who had filed the writ.
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Advocate Hasnat Kaium, who is the chief coordinator of the State Reform Movement and Supreme Court lawyer, filed a writ in this regard with the relevant branch of the High Court yesterday (16 March).
Regarding the writ, lawyer Hasnat Kaium stated, "We have challenged several issues in the writ. One of the key concerns is the Election Commission's rule, which mandates that for political party registration, the party must have committees in at least 100 sub-districts (Upazilas) and 22 districts. However, in the three hill districts predominantly inhabited by indigenous people, there are only 20 sub-districts in total. Consequently, the indigenous communities, even if they wish to, cannot form a political party or even a regional party. The current law of the Election Commission effectively deprives them of their right to establish a political party."
The chief election commissioner, the secretary of the election commission, and the electoral reforms commission have been made respondents in the writ petition.
In a public notice issued on 10 March, the EC invited applications from new parties interested in participating in the elections.
