Staff Correspondent

At least two dozens of political parties rushed to the Election Commission till 2pm on Sunday, the last day for the submission of applications seeking registrations.

The chiefs and other leaders of the parties are arriving in person to file the applications for registration.

The parties that submitted applications by 2pm include Janatar Party Bangladesh (JPB), Ganadal, Bangladesh Janajote Party (BAJPA), Bangladesh Republican Party (BRP), Bangladesh Samata Party, Bangladesh Faraezi Andolon, Bangladesh Citizen Party, Islami Oikya Jote, Notun Bangladesh Party (NBP), Bangladesh Jagrat Janata Party, Bangladesh Gano Biplobi Party, National Awami Party (Bhasani NAP), Bangladesh Khudra Nrigoshthi Federation, Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Janata Party, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (ML), Bangladesh Nagorik Party (BNP), Jatiyo Nyaybichar Party, Bangladesh Democratic Party (BDP) and National Democratic Party (NDP).

JPB seeks ‘elephant’ as symbol:

Janata Party Bangladesh (JPB) applied for registration with a request to use the elephant as its electoral symbol.

Submitting the application at Nirbachan Bhaban, JPB Secretary General Shawkat Mahmud said, “We’ve filed the application for political party registration. The current registration rules are difficult to comply with. Although the Electoral Reform Commission has proposed changes, those haven’t been implemented yet. Even so, we’ve submitted our application under the existing rules and expect to be registered.”

He said JPB supports reforms and would cooperate with the EC if rule changes are implemented.

Janatar Dal wants ‘key’ as symbol:

Another applicant, Janatar Dal, filed its application requesting the key as its symbol.

Jannatar Dal convener Brig Gen (Retd) Shamim Kamal and member secretary Azam Khan submitted the application. “We’ve fulfilled all registration conditions and formed district and upazila committees as required by the law. The rest now depends on the Commission,” Shamim Kamal told reporters after filing their application.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) is supposed to file its registration application in the afternoon.

On March 10, the EC invited applications from new political parties seeking registration by 20 April. A total of 65 parties applied within the deadline. The commission later extended the deadline until June 22.

New political parties are registered under Article 90A of the Representation of the People Order, 1972. If a party is registered with the EC, it can contest the national election with its own electoral symbol.

Now, 50 parties are registered with the EC. The registration of Bangladesh Awami League remains suspended, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to regain its registration following a court order.