Election Commission (EC) in Bangladesh has served show cause notices on December 7, 2022 on 14 registered political parties asking whether they were complying with their registration conditions. According to media reports, Election Commission gave one-month time to four other parties – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Muslim League, Bangladesh Congress and National People’s Party — as they sought time to respond, said EC officials.
Earlier, the EC sent letters to all registered political parties and asked them to respond by November 24, mentioning how they were complying with the registration conditions. If the EC finds that political parties are not abiding by the law, it can revoke their registration.
According to EC officials, they have sent show cause notices on Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, Ganatantry Party, Bangladesh National Awami Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Party, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Muslim League, Ganofront and Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh.
It may be mentioned here that, for registration, a political party needs to meet at least one criterion out of three – including securing at least one seat with its electoral symbol in any parliamentary election held since Bangladesh’s independence.
In May 2022, Election Commission began registration process for new political parties. For registration a political party would need to meet at least one criteria out of three.
The first condition being a political party can get registered by securing at least one seat with its electoral symbol in any parliamentary election held since the independence of Bangladesh.
The second criteria being securing five percent of total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the aforesaid parliamentary elections.
And, as per the third clause the party needs to set up a functional central office, by whatever name it may be called with a central committee, having offices at least in one-third administrative districts, and offices at least in 100 upazilas or metropolitan thanas and the party must have a minimum 200 voters as its members in each upazila.
The first registration system was introduced in 2008. Before the ninth parliament, 126 parties applied, but 39 parties met the conditions and received approval.
As many as 43 parties applied before the 10th parliamentary elections. Three more groups received registration in 2013.
Before the 11th parliamentary elections, 76 parties applied for registration, but not a single party was considered eligible. However, a total of two parties were then registered by court order.
In total, 44 parties received approval from the EC. However, the registration of Freedom Party, Jamaat-e-Islam, JAGPA, United Citizen Movement and PDP was cancelled. Now 39 political parties are registered to take part in the polls.
According to latest information, eighty political parties have applied to the Election Commission for registration to participate in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections.
The Election Commission recently published the list of the political parties which have submitted application.
The list includes a number of political parties, including Nagorik Oikko led by Mahmudur Rahman Manna, whose registrations were rejected previously. There are some newly formed parties, too, among the aspirants.
Among the parties that applied for registration this year are Noitik Samaj, Notun Bangla, Bangabandhu Dustho o Protibondhi Unnayan Parishad, Ityadi Party, Boiraboiri Party, Sanatan Party, Jatiya Insaf Party, Environment Green Party, Jubo Samaj Party, Bangladesh Minority Party, Janamat Party, Justice and Development Party, Am Janata Party, Amar Bangladesh Party, Justice Party, National Green Party, Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Jonoswarthye Bangladesh, and Nakful Bangladesh.
