The Election Commission (EC) has prepared the 2nd phase investigation report on BNF, a newly-floated political party that seeks registration but faces opposition from the BNP.
According to the report prepared on Sunday, the Commission found active offices of BNF in 26 districts and 88 upazilas across the country, said an EC official seeking anonymity.
But the party must have active offices in at least 22 districts and 100 upazilas to become eligible for registration with the EC as per the prescribed rules.
BNF chief coordinator SM Abul Kalam Azad was seen sitting with senior assistant secretary Misbah Uddin Ahmed of the commission while the report was being prepared at the latter’s office on Sunday afternoon.
Asked about his presence, Azad told reporters, “Think I’m not here.”
Insisted why he applied for the election symbol of ‘wheat sheaf’ which looks almost like BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’, he said, “I don’t want the symbol wheat sheaf and won’t either. More importantly, the wheat sheaf is not enlisted by the Commission as a symbol of parliamentary election.”
Replying to a query Azad said, “I’m not fully confident in getting the EC registration as a major political party opposes our registration.”
As many as 43 new political parties have applied for registration within the extended deadline of January 31 this year after the EC issued a public notification in October last year.
The Commission initially picked two parties — BNF and Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijot–for giving registration.
In the wake of BNP’s objection over giving registration to BNF, the Commission selected seven more parties — Bangladesh New Sangsad League (BNSL), Bangladesh Ganoseba Andolan (BGA), Bangladesh Anjuman-e-Al Eshlah, Jamiat-e-Ulamaye Islam O Nezam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Ganoodhikar Dal, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP) and Bangladesh Ganoshakti Dal to give registration.
As per the primary investigation report, the Commission has found BNF’s active offices in only 15 districts and 32 upazilas across the country, though it submitted addresses of its offices in 36 districts and 134 upazilas to the EC.
Later, the EC initiated the 2nd phase of investigation following a BNF’s allegation that its offices came under attacks by cadres of a particular political party across the country before the first investigation.
Currently, there are 38 political parties registered with the EC.
In 2008, a total of 117 political parties applied for registration, but the then Commission, led by Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, gave registration to only 39 parties, including Freedom Party.
Later in 2010, the EC deregistered the Freedom Party as the government declared the party illegal.
According to the clause 90B (1) of the Representation of the People Order 2009, if any political party desires to be registered, it shall fulfill one of the following conditions, namely — 1) a political party must have at least one representative in any parliament after the independence of the country or 2) the party must have got at least 5 percent vote in any parliamentary election 3) the party must have an active central office, district-level offices in at least one-third districts (22 districts) and 100 upazila-level/metropolitan thana-level offices as well as evidence of 200 voters’ support to the party.
Source: UNBConnect
