Thirteen political parties, out of the 39 registered with the Election Commission, have failed to submit their annual audit reports for the year 2012 in time and the Commission treats them as defaulters.
Of the 39 parties, 26 had been able to submit their audit statements within the July 31 deadline.
According to the Political Parties Registration Rules 2008, a party has to get its total transactions on a calendar year audited by a chartered accounting firm and submit a copy of the firm’s report to the commission by July 31 of the subsequent year.
As per the law, the Commission accepted only audit statements which were placed before July 31 and got audited by a registered chartered accounting firm, Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told UNB on Sunday.
The 13 parties are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasad, Communist Party of Bangladesh-CPB, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesher Samybadi Dal-ML, Oikyabadha Nagarik Andolan, Jatiya Party-JP, Bangladesh Muslim League, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Matin), Islamic Oikya Jote and Gano Front.
Of them, Jasad, Workers Party and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan submitted their audit reports after the deadline, while CPB placed within the timeframe, but the latter’s reports was not certified by an audit firm.
Of the 13 parties, nine appealed seeking further time to submit their audit statements.
The 26 parties that submitted their audit reports before July 31 are ruling Awami League, opposition BNP, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Muslim League-BML, Jamiyat-e-Ulama Bangladesh, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, National People’s Party, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Gono Forum, Khelafat Majlish, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party-Jagpa, Bangladesh National Awami Party-NAP, Ganotantri Party, Jaker Party, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Biplobi Workers’ Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basad, Krishak Shramik Janata League, Pragotisheel Ganotantrik Dal (Progressive Democratic Party) and Bangladesh Islami Front.
As per clause 90H(1)(c), the registration of a political party may be cancelled if it fails to submit the audit report in time for three consecutive years.
Source: UNBConnect