New parties upbeat on next polls

Many waiting eagerly to get party registered with EC

Political parties that are yet to be registered are upbeat about taking part in the 11th general election to make it competitive and participatory.

These parties said they would certainly contest the polls if they get the registration. They demanded that the Election Commission (EC) start the application process as early as possible so that they get enough time for poll preparations.

However, the EC has not yet fixed any date for seeking applications for registration. It said an advertisement would be published in October this year and registration, which is mandatory for taking part in parliamentary polls, would be completed by March 2018.

New political parties observed that if they get the registration after fulfilling all criteria of the EC by March 2018, they would not get enough time for preparing their parties for the 11th parliamentary polls.

Some of the unregistered political parties are gearing up their activities in different districts following the rules of registration so that they can meet the EC's criteria.

In June this year, former Awami League leader Mahmudur Rahman Mannan floated "Nagorik Oikya", a political party with the slogan of "Good governance, building welfare state, corruption-free nation".

Talking to The Independent on Tuesday, Mannan, who was also vice-president of DUCSU, said: “We will apply for registration. We are working on the requirements of the EC for getting the registration.”

Asked whether his party would compete in the next general election, he said: “Yes, if we get the registration. We are for participatory and acceptable polls.”

To a question on joining any alliance, Mannan said: “We are trying to build up an alliance on our own.”

Bobby Hajjaj, former special adviser to Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, launched the "Nationalist Democratic Movement (DNM)” in April, with the principles of “Bangladeshi nationalism, religious values, the conscience of independence and accountable democracy”.

Bobby, chairman of the DNM, told The Independent that his party would apply for registration and contest the next general election. “We have completed all preparations for obtaining the EC’s registration. We hope we will get the registration and contest the polls,” he said.

Asked whether he would join any alliance during elections, Bobby, who contested the last mayoral elections to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said: “No. We will contest the next polls alone.”  

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) chairman Shariff Md Ameeruzzaman said they had applied for registration in 2014, but it was rejected. “We will apply for registration after the advertisement of the EC. If we get the registration, we will definitely contest the next parliamentary polls with our full efforts,” he added.

About joining an alliance, Ameeruzzaman said: “In politics, all possibilities are there. Nothing can be spelt out beforehand ”

He, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the timetable of registration. “The EC said it would complete registration by March 2018. Only a few months would be left for the general election. New parties would not get sufficient time to prepare. It’s ludicrous.”

He said the EC should immediately publish the advertisement for registration so that newly registered parties can get enough time to prepare for the polls.

At present, there are 40 registered political parties.

The registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami was cancelled by a High Court order on August 1, 2013 for opposing the independence of Bangladesh. Many of its leaders have faced trials and have been convicted by special war crimes tribunals.

During the Army-backed caretaker government in 2008, registration of political parties intending to contest parliamentary polls was made mandatory.

The Commission said registration would be done as per the Political Party Registration Rules, 2008 and the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

According to Section 90(B) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), for being registered a party must have a central committee, committees in at least 21 districts and 100 upazilas, each of which must have at least 200 members.

Section 90(B) also states that a party has to secure at least one seat with its electoral symbol in any parliamentary election held since the independence of Bangladesh and/or secure 5 per cent of the total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the aforesaid parliamentary elections.

The EC secretary, Muhammad Abdullah, told The Independent on Tuesday that new political parties would get opportunities for registration to contest the parliamentary polls. “Right now, the Commission does not have any directives in floating advertisement for party registration. But unregistered political parties would get their opportunities. The application might be sought in October this year,” he said.

He also said the Commission would complete the registration of the political parties after scrutiny of their applications, and the parities would get registered by March 2018.

New parties upbeat on next polls

Many waiting eagerly to get party registered with EC

Political parties that are yet to be registered are upbeat about taking part in the 11th general election to make it competitive and participatory. These parties said they would certainly contest the polls if they get the registration. They demanded that the Election Commission (EC) start the application process as early as possible so that they get enough time for poll preparations. However, the EC has not yet fixed any date for seeking applications for registration. It said an advertisement would be published in October this year and registration, which is mandatory for taking part in parliamentary polls, would be completed by March 2018. New political parties observed that if they get the registration after fulfilling all criteria of the EC by March 2018, they would not get enough time for preparing their parties for the 11th parliamentary polls. Some of the unregistered political parties are gearing up their activities in different districts following the rules of registration so that they can meet the ECs criteria. In June this year, former Awami League leader Mahmudur Rahman Mannan floated Nagorik Oikya, a political party with the slogan of Good governance, building welfare state, corruption-free nation. Talking to The Independent on Tuesday, Mannan, who was also vice-president of DUCSU, said: We will apply for registration. We are working on the requirements of the EC for getting the registration. Asked whether his party would compete in the next general election, he said: Yes, if we get the registration. We are for participatory and acceptable polls. To a question on joining any alliance, Mannan said: We are trying to build up an alliance on our own. Bobby Hajjaj, former special adviser to Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, launched the Nationalist Democratic Movement (DNM) in April, with the principles of Bangladeshi nationalism, religious values, the conscience of independence and accountable democracy. Bobby, chairman of the DNM, told The Independent that his party would apply for registration and contest the next general election. We have completed all preparations for obtaining the ECs registration. We hope we will get the registration and contest the polls, he said. Asked whether he would join any alliance during elections, Bobby, who contested the last mayoral elections to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said: No. We will contest the next polls alone. Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) chairman Shariff Md Ameeruzzaman said they had applied for registration in 2014, but it was rejected. We will apply for registration after the advertisement of the EC. If we get the registration, we will definitely contest the next parliamentary polls with our full efforts, he added. About joining an alliance, Ameeruzzaman said: In politics, all possibilities are there. Nothing can be spelt out beforehand He, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the timetable of registration. The EC said it would complete registration by March 2018. Only a few months would be left for the general election. New parties would not get sufficient time to prepare. Its ludicrous. He said the EC should immediately publish the advertisement for registration so that newly registered parties can get enough time to prepare for the polls. At present, there are 40 registered political parties. The registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami was cancelled by a High Court order on August 1, 2013 for opposing the independence of Bangladesh. Many of its leaders have faced trials and have been convicted by special war crimes tribunals. During the Army-backed caretaker government in 2008, registration of political parties intending to contest parliamentary polls was made mandatory. The Commission said registration would be done as per the Political Party Registration Rules, 2008 and the Representation of the People Order (RPO). According to Section 90(B) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), for being registered a party must have a central committee, committees in at least 21 districts and 100 upazilas, each of which must have at least 200 members. Section 90(B) also states that a party has to secure at least one seat with its electoral symbol in any parliamentary election held since the independence of Bangladesh and/or secure 5 per cent of the total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the aforesaid parliamentary elections. The EC secretary, Muhammad Abdullah, told The Independent on Tuesday that new political parties would get opportunities for registration to contest the parliamentary polls. Right now, the Commission does not have any directives in floating advertisement for party registration. But unregistered political parties would get their opportunities. The application might be sought in October this year, he said. He also said the Commission would complete the registration of the political parties after scrutiny of their applications, and the parities would get registered by March 2018.