NCP getting EC registration

The Election Commission has decided to register the National Citizen Party and Bangladesh Jatiya League as political parties, said senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed yesterday.

He said 13 parties have been kept under review. Of these, three are undergoing further scrutiny, nine are facing more extensive investigations, and a decision on one party will be made after a High Court verdict.

Akhtar said 143 parties applied for registration, and information from field-level investigations was reviewed for 22. After assessment, only NCP and Bangladesh Jatiya League primarily fulfilled the requirements.

"We will issue a public notice to see if there are any objections or concerns," he said.

"There is an unresolved issue with NCP's symbol. The symbol they requested is not included in the EC's official list. We will send them a letter asking to confirm an alternative symbol. After we receive their reply, we will issue the public notice with the specified symbol."

The EC is also reviewing applications of Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party, Jatiya Janata Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD - Shahjahan Siraj).

Further investigations will be carried out into the existence and activities of nine other parties: Amjanatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Party (BGP), Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad, Janatar Dal, Moulik Bangla and Janata Party Bangladesh.

The commission is awaiting a High Court verdict regarding Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, while seven parties have already been denied registration. These are Forward Party, Bangladesh Reformist Party (BRP), Bangladesh Communist Party (Marxist - CPB M), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Bangladesh Solution Party and Notun Bangladesh Party.