EC decides to grant registration to NCP, Bangladesh Jatiya League

 
The Election Commission has decided to grant registration to two political parties: the National Citizen Party, formed by youth after the July Uprising, and the newly established Bangladesh Jatiya League.

Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed shared the development at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Tuesday.

He said, "A total of 143 parties applied. Of these, 22 were reviewed, and the decision was made to register NCP and Bangladesh Jatiya League."
This registration allows both parties to contest the parliamentary polls with their respective party symbols.

Akhtar said the NCP and Bangladesh Jatiya League have fulfilled the preliminary requirements for political party registration. The EC will now publish notices in newspapers to invite objections, if any, reports bdnews24.com.

If objections are raised, hearings will be held before finalising the registration and publishing the names in the government gazette.

Once confirmed, the parties will be issued registration certificates along with election symbols.

The NCP's preferred "Shapla" symbol is not included in the EC's official list. The commission has already informed the party that it will need to select a different symbol.

According to the law, a party must have a central committee, district committees in one-third of all districts, and committees in at least 100 Upazilas to qualify for registration. Each committee must also present proof of support from at least 200 voters.

The EC secretary added that one more party will obtain registration by court order.

Meanwhile, three parties will undergo "deeper review", and nine others will be subject to "more inquiry". Seven parties have already been disqualified.

The Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party will be registered through a court order. The parties under "deeper review" are Bangladesh Aam Jonogon Party, Jatiya Janata Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal's Shajahan Siraj faction.

The nine parties requiring "more inquiry" include Amjanatar Dol, Bangladesh Ganotantrik Party, Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad, Janatar Dal, Moulik Bangla, and Janata Party Bangladesh.

Those dropped from consideration include Forward Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist-CPBM), Bangladesh Reformist Party, Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Bangladesh Solution Party, Notun Bangladesh Party, Jamiat-e-Olam-e-Islam & Nezame Islam Party.

Political party registration was made mandatory before the ninth general election in 2008. Without registration, candidates cannot compete in the elections under the party's name or election symbol.

So far, 56 parties have been registered, though five have since been deregistered for failing to meet requirements or by court orders. The Jamaat-e-Islami, whose registration was previously cancelled, has been reinstated, while the Awami League's registration remains suspended. This brings the current number of registered parties to 51.