The Election Commission on Tuesday issued notifications granting three political parties registration ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections, after the parties met all the required conditions for approval.
The parties are the National Citizen Party, the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and the Bangladesh Aam Janogan Party.
According to the notification signed by EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed, the NCP has been allotted the 鈥榳ater lily bud鈥� symbol, the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) 鈥榮cissors鈥�, and the Aam Janogan Party 鈥榟andshake鈥�.
The EC secretary told reporters that the commission would publish the notifications in national newspapers seeking public opinions or objections regarding the newly registered parties.
Members of the public will have until November 12 to submit their feedback, after which the commission would make a final decision based on the responses received.
He said that the commission had received 143 applications for party registration.
Following scrutinies, 22 parties were selected for field-level investigation. Based on the findings, most applicants were found ineligible for failing to meet the minimum requirements set by the commission.
Seven parties were disqualified for not fulfilling the basic criteria, while several others were rejected for lacking organisational continuity or evidence of political activity.
The registration of one party, the Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, remained pending due to an ongoing writ petition in the High Court, and a decision will be taken after receiving court verdict.
The EC secretary said that after a re-investigation, three parties were initially considered for registration based on their previous political participation.
The parties were the Jatiya Janata Party, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD, Shahjahan Siraj faction), and the Bangladesh National League.
However, the commission later observed inconsistencies in their organisational activities and decided to cancel their applications.
He further said that eight other parties were also denied registration after their documents were found to be inconsistent.
The parties were the Am Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Beker Mukti Parishad, Janatar Dal, Moulik Bangla, Janatar Party, and the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Party.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission officially registered the Bangladesh Republican Party and reinstated the registration of the Jatiya Ganatantrik Party鈥揓AGPA, following separate directives from the High Court Division.
According to an EC notification signed by senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed, the Bangladesh Republican Party was registered on October 23 in compliance with a HC judgement and order on July 23.
Acting under the provisions of the RPO 1972, the commission granted the BRP registration number 057 and allocated elephant as its official electoral symbol.
In a separate development, the commission on October 27 reinstated the registration of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party鈥揓AGPA following a HC judgement.
The commission confirmed that JAGPA had originally been registered on November 20, 2008, bearing registration number 036 and the 鈥楬ukka鈥� symbol.
The 2021 cancellation had been declared invalid by the court, prompting the EC to withdraw its previous order and restore the party鈥檚 registration and symbol.
Both decisions were taken in compliance with the court鈥檚 rulings and formalised through official notifications issued by the EC secretariat.
At present, 55 political parties, including the Bangladesh Awami League, are registered with the Election Commission.
The Awami League鈥檚 registration has recently been suspended as the government imposed ban on the activities of the party.