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Three political parties, which were denied registration by the Election Commission, staged demonstrations in front of Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday, demanding official recognition.

The three parties – Aam Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party and Moulik Bangla – staged separate programmes, demanding registration as political parties ahead of the next general election.

Aam Janatar Dal member secretary Tarique Rahman began a hunger strike unto death on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the decision to award registration to three other parties—National Citizen Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party.

On Wednesday morning, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party and Moulik Bangla joined the demonstration with separate sit-in programmes at the EC gate.

Till 8:30pm on Wednesday, leaders of the three parties were seen continuing their programmes.

Talking to the media on Wednesday night, Tarique Rahman said, ‘I will continue my hunger strike.... I stage my hunger strike not only for Aam Janatar Dal but also for every party eligible to be registered. I won’t end it until the Commission grants registration.’

Gono Odhikar Parishad general secretary Rashed Khan on Wednesday morning went to the EC expressing solidarity with the hunger strike of Tarique Rahman. ‘The movement of Tarique Rahman bhai is justified. The Election Commission must register his party, Aam Janatar Dal.’

‘We saw three parties receiving registration yesterday. Among them, NCP has been awarded registration—we wish them well. But questions remain about how the other two parties got it,’ he said.

Chairman of Justice and Development Party Delwar Hussain said that they would continue their programme until their demand is fulfilled. ‘We’ll continue our sit-in programme until our demand is met,’ he told UNB.

President of Moulik Bangla Farid Ahmed said, ‘We will continue our programme until the EC gives registration to our party.’

The Election Commission on Tuesday night issued separate notifications over awarding registration to three political parties, including the National Citizen Party.

The commission decided to award registration to NCP with the electoral symbol of ‘water lily bud’, while Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party with ‘handshake’ symbol and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) with ‘sewing scissor’ symbol.

The commission will finally recognise them as the registered parties following settling objections, if any one received by November 12, against them.

Nahid Islam and Akhtar Hossain are respectively the convener and the member secretary of NCP formed by the youths who led the 2024 mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime.

Mohammad Rafiqul Ameen and Fatima Tasnim are respectively the convener and the member secretary of Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party, while Masud Rana and Joydeep Bhattacharya are respectively the coordinator and the member of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist).

On March 10, the commission invited applications from the new political parties by April 20 next to get registered ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

The EC received applications from 143 parties seeking registration within the extended deadline of June 22 last. After scrutiny, 22 parties were shortlisted for field-level inquiries to verify the authenticity of their claims of fulfillment of registration conditions.

A total of 57 parties have so far obtained registration, but five of them—Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Freedom Party, Oikyabodha Nagorik Andolan, PDP and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa)—later lost their status due to different grounds and court orders.

But Jamaat and Jagpa got back their registration following the court orders. Besides, the registration of Awami League remains suspended.