Election Commission gives political parties two more months to register

At least 46 parties have so far sought an extension of the registration window, including the NCP

The Election Commission (EC) has announced an extension on the application deadline for registering new political parties, pushing the window until Jun 22 ahead of the upcoming 13th general elections.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed disclosed the extension of the timeline while speaking on the final day of the original registration period on Sunday.

He noted that several parties had applied not only for registration but also for more time to submit their documents.

“For this, the deadline has been extended until Jun 22,” Akhtar said.

“Applications must be made within this period as per the existing laws and regulations.”

According to officials from the commission’s relevant department, 46 parties have so far sought an extension of time, including the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP).

In addition, the commission received another 65 applications seeking fresh registrations.

That figure is expected to rise with the compilation process in progress.

The EC had earlier set Apr 20 as the deadline for registrations, announcing it in a public notice on Mar 10.

The announcement had been part of preparations for a general election targeted for December.

The NCP has formally requested a 90-day extension through a letter addressed to the commission.

Other political organisations also submitted appeals seeking more time to complete the registration process.

As the original registration window closed on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and his team decided to extend the deadline after a review of the situation around 5pm.

The current EC took over on Nov 21, 2024, after the previous commission left a month into the appointment of the interim government.

The 13th general elections are scheduled to be conducted under the supervision of the Nasir-led commission. Preparations are under way for voting in December.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has indicated that elections could take place anytime between December and June, though the commission appears to be aiming for the year-end.

Under existing laws, applicants for new political party registration must submit 10 types of documents and information, along with a non-refundable fee of Tk 5,000.

Required documents include an application on the party’s official letterhead, the party constitution, election manifesto if available, internal rules, an image of the party flag and logo, the central committee list, financial statements, funding sources, power of attorney for registration, a treasury invoice copy of the registration fee, and evidence of meeting at least one of three eligibility conditions.