Election Commission grants 15-day deadline for parties to respond and fulfill registration requirements

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has begun issuing letters to 82 political parties, including the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), following their failure to pass the preliminary screening process for official party registration. The move marks the second phase of correspondence with parties that have applied for registration under the EC’s latest call.

Earlier, 62 political parties were sent similar notices after failing to meet the necessary conditions in the first round of verification. The current round brings the total number of parties receiving notices to 144. EC Deputy Secretary Md. Mahbub Alam Shah shared this information with journalists on Sunday, July 20.

According to Shah, the Commission has initiated this step as part of the ongoing scrutiny of parties that submitted applications in response to a public call issued by the EC earlier this year. He stated that each of the 82 parties would be given 15 days to respond to the Commission’s letter and present the necessary documentation or clarifications.

The EC had initially invited applications for new party registration through a public notice issued on April 20. After receiving a substantial number of applications, including one from the NCP, the deadline for submissions was extended to June 22 to accommodate more parties.

Under the current legal framework, political parties seeking registration must meet a set of core requirements. These include having a central committee, party structures in at least one-third of the country's districts, and active units in a minimum of 100 upazilas (sub-districts). Moreover, each party must demonstrate the support of at least 200 voters within each of those upazilas.

In addition to organizational infrastructure, the law considers electoral performance. A party may qualify for registration if it had a candidate who served as a Member of Parliament in the past or if the party secured at least five percent of the total vote in a previous national election. Parties must also comply with several procedural and documentation guidelines in their application to be considered for registration.

The EC’s review process aims to ensure that all political entities participating in future elections meet the standards required for legitimacy and operational transparency. The Commission has emphasized that all parties will be given an equal opportunity to fulfill the necessary requirements within the stipulated timeframe. Failure to do so may result in the rejection of their applications.

This registration initiative is part of the EC's broader strategy to streamline the political landscape ahead of upcoming national elections. By enforcing clear criteria for registration, the Commission intends to uphold the integrity and structure of the country's democratic process.