EC to conclude registration of new parties tomorrow

The Election Commission (EC) is expected to hold a meeting tomorrow morning to conclude the registration process for new political parties after thorough field verification and review.

The meeting, to be presided over by Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker, is set for 11:30am at the EC headquarters in Dhaka.

The agenda includes registration of new political parties along with other election-related matters, according to a letter issued on September 9, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mahbub Alam Shah.

According to the letter, the commission will approve the applications, publish a gazette, and issue registration certificates between September 23 and 30 if there is absence of objections.

Ahead of the upcoming 13th national election, 143 parties applied for registration. Following primary scrutiny, the EC carried out field-level investigations into 22 of them, which were completed on August 31.

The Election Commission on August 28 unveiled its work plan for the next general election and set November as the deadline for wrapping up all major preparations.

According to EC's roadmap, a public notice on the eligible parties will be issued by September 14. If any objections are lodged within the stipulated period, hearings will be held between September 15 and 22.

The EC has been registering political parties since 2008 under the Representation of the People Order, 1972. Currently, there are 50 registered parties in Bangladesh.

The EC opened registration for new political parties on March 10. The initial deadline was April 20.

The 22 new political parties that cleared the final review stage are: National Citizen Party (NCP), Forward Party, Aam Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Party (BGP), Bangladesh Reformist Party (BRP), Bangladesh Nejame Islam Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Moulik Bangla, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Jatiya Janata Party, Janatar Dal, Janata Party Bangladesh, Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party, Bangladesh Jatiya League, Bhashani Janoshakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad, Bangladesh Communist Party (Marxist) CPB (M), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Shahjahan Siraj), Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam and Nejame Islam Party, Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Bangladesh Solution Party, and Notun Bangladesh Party.