Registration criteria not fulfilled as AL submits form

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Awami League (AL) yesterday submitted application for registration to the Election Commission (EC) with a provisional constitution keeping provision for its associate bodies and foreign chapters which contradicts registration criteria as per the revised Representation of the People Order (RPO).

As per the RPO, political parties willing to get registered shall have specific provisions in their constitutions prohibiting formation of any associated bodies consisting of teachers and students, employees and labourers of financial institutions and other professionals. It says the same on having a party’s foreign chapters.

However, Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told The Daily Star that if any political party fails to fulfil the new registration criteria, they would ask the party to make necessary corrections for getting registered.

Meanwhile, key leaders of the AL-led 14 party combine will sit today to take a common stance over lifting the state of emergency ahead of the national election and permanent release of AL President Sheikh Hasina.

Terming the AL’s submission of application for registration positive, Sohul Hussain hoped that other political parties including BNP will apply for registration with the EC within the stipulated time complying with the new electoral laws.

Four other political parties — Jatiya Party (JP), National Awami Party, Forward Party and Gono Oikyo Front — also applied for registration with the EC yesterday.

A total of 23 parties have so far applied for registration with the EC since August 26. The deadline for getting registered with the commission is October 20.

“We have submitted the application with all necessary papers complying with the new registration criteria laid down in the revised Representation of the People Order. We hope the Election Commission will register us with it,” AL Office Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan told reporters after submitting the application.

Mannan, along with Assistant Office Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, submitted the application with the party constitution, its draft amendments and other necessary documents to Jasmine Tuli, deputy secretary to the EC Secretariat, at around 2:30pm.

Earlier, a JP delegation led by its Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader submitted an application to the EC with the party’s provisional constitution that curtailed the power of its chairman.

MEETING OF 14-PARTY COMBINE
Gono Forum, one of the components of the 14-party combine, had not been invited to today’s meeting, sources said.

“We have not been informed about the 14-party combine’s meeting,” Gono Forum presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya told The Daily Star last night.

He said the 11-party alliance will sit prior to the 14-party combine’s meeting.

The meeting of 14-party alliance will be held at AL acting president Zillur Rahman’s Gulshan residence in the capital at 5:00pm.

“Various issues including national election, lifting of the state of emergency, and permanent release of Sheikh Hasina will be discussed,” AL presidium member Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

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