Home
+
Published : 10 Mar 2025, 03:00 AM
The Election Commission is set to issue a notification soon, inviting applications for new political party registrations ahead of the general election.
“If we are to hold elections in December, we must begin the registration process now,” Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told bdnews24.com on Sunday.
“Parties will have to apply under the existing law.”
He indicated that the notice could be issued on Monday, with an initial deadline for applications set for Apr 20.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024, the commission has registered several new parties, including Amar Bangladesh Party, or AB Party, Nurul Haque Nur’s Gono Odhikar Parishad, or GOP, Mahmudur Rahman’s Nagorik Oikya, and Ganosamhati Andolon.
After the appointment of AMM Nasir Uddin as chief election commissioner, or CEC, the Bangladesh Development Party, or BDP, was also registered following a court order.
The total number of registered political parties now stands at 49.
The commission plans to complete the new party registration process before the parliamentary election.
Preparations are also under way to announce the election schedule in October, as the election is expected to take place in December.
It typically takes three to four months to scrutinise applications, and the Election Commission aims to finalise the process within August.
HOW TO REGISTER
Election Commission officials said, as per existing laws and regulations, applicants must submit 10 pieces of information along with their application.
They added that a non-refundable registration fee of Tk 5,000 is required.
Along with the application on party letterhead, the following documents must be submitted:
• Party's framework
• Electoral manifesto (if available)
• Party rules (if applicable)
• Party's logo and flag images
• List of all central committee members
• Bank account details and the current status
• Source of funds
• Power of attorney of the applicant
• Copy of the non-refundable treasury challan for the registration fee
• Proof of fulfilling any one of the three registration conditions
CONDITIONS FOR REGISTRATION
According to the Representation of the People Order, or RPO, a party becomes eligible for registration if it meets any one of the three conditions set by the commission.
1. The party must have at least one member of parliament, or MP, from any national election after the Bangladesh’s independence.
2. The party’s candidate must secure at least 5 percent of the total votes in any constituency during an election.
3. The party must have an active central office, an effective committee in at least one-third (21) of the administrative districts, and evidence of at least 200 voters' support in each of 100 Upazila or metropolitan areas.
For new parties, the third condition must be fulfilled to qualify for registration.
The first and second conditions are not achievable for new parties.
The registration process was introduced in 2008 under the leadership of the then CEC ATM Shamsul Huda, with three conditions for registration."
Political party registration is mandatory to participate in parliamentary elections.
Candidates not representing a political party must stand as independent candidates.
After the government change, more than a dozen new parties have emerged on the political scene.
Among them, the National Citizen Party, or NCP, with the student leaders of the uprising at the forefront, has drawn the most attention.
