Print: 29 Oct 2025
EC misses deadline to finalise new parties’ registration
NCP has been asked to propose a new symbol
The Election Commission (EC) has missed its deadline to finalise the registration of new political parties. The EC was due to complete registrations by Tuesday as per its action plan.
The EC had shortlisted five parties for approval and even prepared a newspaper advertisement last week but withdrew the notification over complications, including disputes over the National Citizens Party’s (NCP) electoral symbol.
Regarding the NCP’s request for the “Shapla” (water lily) symbol, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, on Monday, said, “They wanted Shapla, but the Nagorik Oikya of Mahmudur Rahman Manna had asked for it first. They submitted an application and later their delegation met with me. Now suddenly there is so much discussion about Nagorik Oikya and the Shapla symbol, I don’t understand it.”
The CEC then said, “Our target was to complete new political party registrations very quickly, within this month [September]. To grant registration, I need to publish a notification in the newspapers. After that notification, anyone may object, saying this party’s name resembles theirs, or that they had such a party in the past. Anyone could raise any allegation. In that case, I must look into those complaints.”
About the parties under review, he said, “We are collecting additional information about them. Once those are finalised, then perhaps we can say something.”
Asked if the additional information was being collected through intelligence agencies, he said, “No. We have our own methods. We do not have to depend on any agency.”
On Tuesday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the NCP and Bangladesh National League were found eligible for registration, while several others – Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party, Bangladesh Janata Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Shahjahan Siraj) – required further field investigation and scrutiny.
In total, 143 parties applied for registration before 22 June. Twenty-two passed the primary screening, but only two have so far met all conditions, the EC said.
The NCP has been asked to propose a new symbol, while the Bangladesh National League’s symbol has been deemed valid.
Nine other parties remain under review – Aam Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Party (BGP), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Bangladesh Justice and Development Party,
Bhashani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad, Janatar Dal, Moulik Bangla, and Janata Party Bangladesh.
Seven applications were rejected for inadequate documentation – Forward Party, Bangladesh Communist Party (Marxist CPBM), Bangladesh Reformist Party (BRP), Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Bangladesh Solution Party, Notun Bangladesh Party, and Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam.
Currently, 51 parties – including the Awami League – are registered with the EC. The registration system was introduced before the 9th parliamentary election in 2008.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected]
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EC misses deadline to finalise new parties’ registration
NCP has been asked to propose a new symbol
The Election Commission (EC) has missed its deadline to finalise the registration of new political parties. The EC was due to complete registrations by Tuesday as per its action plan.
The EC had shortlisted five parties for approval and even prepared a newspaper advertisement last week but withdrew the notification over complications, including disputes over the National Citizens Party’s (NCP) electoral symbol.
Regarding the NCP’s request for the “Shapla” (water lily) symbol, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, on Monday, said, “They wanted Shapla, but the Nagorik Oikya of Mahmudur Rahman Manna had asked for it first. They submitted an application and later their delegation met with me. Now suddenly there is so much discussion about Nagorik Oikya and the Shapla symbol, I don’t understand it.”
The CEC then said, “Our target was to complete new political party registrations very quickly, within this month [September]. To grant registration, I need to publish a notification in the newspapers. After that notification, anyone may object, saying this party’s name resembles theirs, or that they had such a party in the past. Anyone could raise any allegation. In that case, I must look into those complaints.”
About the parties under review, he said, “We are collecting additional information about them. Once those are finalised, then perhaps we can say something.”
Asked if the additional information was being collected through intelligence agencies, he said, “No. We have our own methods. We do not have to depend on any agency.”
On Tuesday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the NCP and Bangladesh National League were found eligible for registration, while several others – Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party, Bangladesh Janata Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Shahjahan Siraj) – required further field investigation and scrutiny.
In total, 143 parties applied for registration before 22 June. Twenty-two passed the primary screening, but only two have so far met all conditions, the EC said.
The NCP has been asked to propose a new symbol, while the Bangladesh National League’s symbol has been deemed valid.
Nine other parties remain under review – Aam Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Party (BGP), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Bangladesh Justice and Development Party,
Bhashani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Bekar Mukti Parishad, Janatar Dal, Moulik Bangla, and Janata Party Bangladesh.
Seven applications were rejected for inadequate documentation – Forward Party, Bangladesh Communist Party (Marxist CPBM), Bangladesh Reformist Party (BRP), Bangladesh Bekar Samaj, Bangladesh Solution Party, Notun Bangladesh Party, and Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam.
Currently, 51 parties – including the Awami League – are registered with the EC. The registration system was introduced before the 9th parliamentary election in 2008.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected]