Five political parties — including a newly formed one named ‘Awami League’ — have applied for registration with the Election Commission (EC) over the past month ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections.
According to an EC public notice, applications for new party registrations can be submitted until April 20. So far, letters have been received from five parties: Awami League, Am Janatar Dal, Natun Bangla, Sommilito Islami Oikkojot, and Democratic Citizen’s Power.
Despite the EC’s invitation for applications, the response has been tepid, with only five submissions received so far. The deadline now stands just eight days away.
Meanwhile, the National Citizens Party (NCP) has not yet applied but plans to request an extension of the application deadline.
An EC official said the commission will wait until 20 April and review the situation before making further decisions regarding new party registrations.
The lackluster response follows a High Court order suspending the EC’s public notice on party registration, issued in connection with the State Reform Movement after a writ petition was filed. This development appears to have discouraged several potential applicants.
KM Ali Newaz, additional secretary of the Election Commission, said that just two weeks after the public notice was issued on March 25, a party named ‘Awami League’ became the first to submit its application.
Notably, this newly formed ‘Awami League’ is led by Uzzal Rai, a resident of Ramchandrapur village in Parbatipur Upazila of Dinajpur. The party’s headquarters has been listed as Bangabandhu Avenue — where the original Awami League’s central office is located — but no specific house number was mentioned in the application.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
