EC seeks certified accounts from all registered political parties

The Election Commission has sent notice to 40 registered political parties asking them to furnish detailed accounts for 2014-15.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 18 June 2015, 04:08 AM
Updated : 18 June 2015, 04:24 AM
EC's additional secretary Rowshan Ara said all the parties have been asked to get their annual accounts audited and certified by an approved chartered accounting firm for submission on or before 31 July.

"We have sent notices to the general secretaries of all political parties by post and through special messengers," Rowshan Ara said.

It is mandatory under the Peoples Representation Act for all registered political parties to submit annual accounts .

Failing to do that for three successive years would lead to cancellation of registration under provisions of the Act.

EC officials said Ganafront will have to file their accounts  if they want to save their registration because they defaulted for the last two consecutive years. Bikalpadhara also did not file the report within the deadline for last year. 

Ara said they would publish the reports on the commission’s website after vetting.

The EC did not write to Jamaat-e-Islami since their registration was declared void in a court order. 

Altogether, 39 parties registered in 2008 ahead of the polls. Freedom Party’s registration was cancelled a year later as it failed to submit their amended constitution. 

Three other parties registered before the 10th National Parliament Elections. With Jamaat’s registration revoked, there are now total 40 parties registered with the Election Commission.  

Jamaat still on EC website

Jamaat-e-Islami registered with the commission in 2008 as a mandatory step for participating in the national elections. 

However, its enlistment with the EC was revoked by a Aug 1, 2013 court order based on a petition that claimed Jamaat’s constitution violates the People’s Representation Act and the country’s constitution. 

Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Secretary General Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri moved the court with the plea along with 24 others. 

EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam said they need not issue a circular cancelling Jamaat’s registration since the court order had already vouched for it. 

However, the commission’s website still lists Jamaat as a registered party and also mentions the court order. 

Jamaat, accused of collaborating with Pakistani occupational forces during the 1971 Liberation War, have appealed against the order. 

“The matter has not come up in the cause list yet. We will take part in the hearing whenever it comes up,” a member of EC’s lawyer panel Touhidul Islam said.