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Published : 28 Sep 2025, 02:58 AM
Whenever senior leaders of major political parties travel abroad, they are received by expatriate party activists. The same scenes play out whether they belong to the ruling party or the opposition: welcomes, rallies, and counter-protests.
Most recently in New York, as Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus arrived for the UN General Assembly accompanied by the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders, they were greeted by supporters, while Awami League activists staged protests.
Yet under the Representation of the People Order (RPO) -- a set of electoral laws -- registered political parties are not permitted to form or run overseas branches or committees.
Although party registration was introduced in 2008, the Election Commission (EC) has never moved to monitor or enforce this rule.
“KEEP IT OR SCRAP IT”
Abdul Alim, a member of the Electoral Reform Commission, said: “Ever since the provision was added to the RPO in 2008, it has never been enforced. Monitoring whether overseas branches exist is difficult. If the provision remains, it must be supervised; if it cannot be implemented, it should be removed. A consensus with parties is needed.”
The EC, under Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, has been preparing for the parliamentary election since taking office last November.
Over 50 political parties are currently registered with the EC. Officials admit they have had no opportunity to check whether parties comply with registration requirements; instead, they are preoccupied with processing new registrations.
Asked about the existence of overseas branches, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said on Wednesday they were concentrating fully on preparing for the election. He declined to comment further, but noted the matter could be taken up in future discussions with political parties.
WHAT THE RPO REQUIRES
To register, parties must meet at least one of these conditions:
● hold a parliamentary seat since independence,
● have secured 5 percent of the national election,
● maintain a central office, committees in one-third of districts and at least 100 Upazilas, and a list of 200 supporters per committee.
They must also pledge to meet the 33 percent quota for women in all committees by 2030.
The law prohibits student, teacher, or employee-based associate bodies, and disqualifies parties whose constitutions violate the Constitution.
Article 90(G)(1)(e) of the RPO explicitly states if a party’s constitution contains any clause allowing offices or committees outside the country, it is ineligible for registration.
While the EC has sought updates from parties on women’s representation, constitutions, field committees and affiliate organisations, no commission has ever raised the matter of foreign branches.
POSTAL VOTING AND CONTRADICTIONS
This year, the EC is introducing IT-assisted postal voting for expatriates, with extensive campaigns in overseas communities. For the first time, the electoral code of conduct will also bar expatriates from campaigning for candidates.
Experts say the policy contradicts itself: allowing postal voting while banning party branches abroad, and keeping rules in place that are never enforced.
“EVERY PARTY RUNS BRANCHES ABROAD”
The NCP, a new party awaiting registration, has already announced diaspora branches in several countries.
Its Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa told bdnews24.com, “We have studied the RPO provisions. The law says party constitutions cannot include overseas branches or committees. Technically, that means no registered party can include them in its constitution. But in practice, all parties run branches abroad.”
He admitted these branches operate “unofficially”.
“It is hard to accuse parties of direct violation, because the law only bans such provisions in constitutions. Many overseas members provide donations. We will raise the logic of this provision in EC dialogues.”
“MEANINGLESS WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT”
Election analyst Abdul Alim said the ban is ineffective.
“Leaders of the Awami League, BNP and others have always been received by overseas branches. Opponents have staged protests, rallies, even thrown eggs or shoes. This damages the country’s reputation abroad," he said.
NCP leader Akhter Hossen was recently targeted in an egg attack in the United States.
During a recent US trip, Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam faced an attempted assault, followed days later by a similar attempt in the UK.
“If the provision exists but is never enforced, it becomes meaningless. Since 2008 the EC has taken no action, no monitoring. It’s just paper.”
He noted that unlike Bangladesh, parties from India or Sri Lanka do not operate foreign branches.
Alim added, “Today it is not just new parties, old parties also have branches abroad. The EC should at least issue warnings, even if monitoring is difficult.”
He acknowledged enforcement challenges. “It is very difficult. The EC has no presence abroad, no observers. So it comes down to a gentleman’s agreement, that parties will not create disorder overseas.”
WHAT NEXT FOR THE EC?
A glaring inconsistency remains: active overseas branches on one hand, and a ban on them in law on the other, while postal voting is being rolled out.
Election Commissioner Anwarul distinguished between political activity and individual voting rights.
“Political party activities are one thing. Casting a personal vote by postal ballot is another.”
Pressed on the lack of enforcement, he only said: “I would not comment at this moment. If the issue arises, we will review it. Discussions will be held with the parties, and the commission will decide.”
Officials say the EC does not want to act on affiliate bodies, professional associations or RPO violations ahead of polls, to avoid misunderstandings.
“We are fully prepared for the election,” Anwarul added. “The laws and regulations are being reformed, and we are committed to implementing them.”
