Parties must register between Aug 27 and Oct 15: EC
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
The Election Commission (EC) begins the registration of political parties tomorrow (Wednesday), setting October 15 as the last date for submitting application for getting registered with the EC as a pre-requisite for contesting the upcoming polls, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
"The commission has sent the draft of the registration regulations for political parties - in line with new electoral laws - to the Law Ministry," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters at the EC Secretariat.
Earlier, he said that the registration of the political parties would begin within 2-3 days and the process would be finalised by October 30 for their participation in the ninth general election in December. "From the date of public notification within 2-3 days, the registration process will be going on until October 15," the CEC said.
Dr Huda urged all the political parties to complete their registration with the commission within this time after holding their party councils.
"If necessary, we'll tell the government to relax the emergency for performing councils of the political parties," he said, as the politicians spoke of problems in holding council session amid restriction on political activities under the state of emergency.
The CEC made it clear that registration is imperative to bring back internal order in the political parties, as rival candidates would not be able to contest without nomination from the central leaders of a party.
He said registration of the political parties is not a unilateral decision taken by the Election Commission, rather the political parties themselves and the civil-society members demanded it.
He noted that registration is necessary for any political party to graduate to a certain level, and it (registration) would help in strengthening the organisations.
"Controlling politics or de-politicisation of political parties is totally out of our thought," the CEC said, referring to reported apprehensions of some political parties about the step being taken under the newly updated Representation of People Order (RPO).
Dr Huda observed that the general election in December would not be acceptable to the people as well as to the Election Commission without participation of all political parties.
So, he said, the commission would ask the present caretaker government to create atmosphere for ensuring participation of all political parties in the ninth parliamentary election, earlier cancelled after the declaration of state of emergency amid a political crisis over election issues in January last year.
About the dialogue of political parties with the EC, Dr Huda said the commission is ready to sit for dialogue with any political party for making them understand any problem with the registration process, but "not over any other content of the revised Representation of People Order (RPO), promulgated on August 19".
"There's no scope for discussing the contents of the RPO other than about implementing the contents," he said, ruling out the possibility of any change to the politico-electoral law that makes it mandatory for the parties to disown their variegated political front organisations.
He mentioned that during the two-phase dialogue of all political parties with the EC, the parties agreed on all matters except three issues - introduction of 'no vote', ban on party fronts abroad, and election expenditure.
Replying to a question, the CEC said the commission has asked the government to take necessary steps to woo all political parties into the general election.
Asked what if Khaleda Zia-nominated BNP Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain applied for registration on behalf of the party, he said the commission would further look into the matter.
Election commissioners M Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hossain, and EC secretary M Humayun Kabir were also present at the press briefing.
"The commission has sent the draft of the registration regulations for political parties - in line with new electoral laws - to the Law Ministry," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters at the EC Secretariat.
Earlier, he said that the registration of the political parties would begin within 2-3 days and the process would be finalised by October 30 for their participation in the ninth general election in December. "From the date of public notification within 2-3 days, the registration process will be going on until October 15," the CEC said.
Dr Huda urged all the political parties to complete their registration with the commission within this time after holding their party councils.
"If necessary, we'll tell the government to relax the emergency for performing councils of the political parties," he said, as the politicians spoke of problems in holding council session amid restriction on political activities under the state of emergency.
The CEC made it clear that registration is imperative to bring back internal order in the political parties, as rival candidates would not be able to contest without nomination from the central leaders of a party.
He said registration of the political parties is not a unilateral decision taken by the Election Commission, rather the political parties themselves and the civil-society members demanded it.
He noted that registration is necessary for any political party to graduate to a certain level, and it (registration) would help in strengthening the organisations.
"Controlling politics or de-politicisation of political parties is totally out of our thought," the CEC said, referring to reported apprehensions of some political parties about the step being taken under the newly updated Representation of People Order (RPO).
Dr Huda observed that the general election in December would not be acceptable to the people as well as to the Election Commission without participation of all political parties.
So, he said, the commission would ask the present caretaker government to create atmosphere for ensuring participation of all political parties in the ninth parliamentary election, earlier cancelled after the declaration of state of emergency amid a political crisis over election issues in January last year.
About the dialogue of political parties with the EC, Dr Huda said the commission is ready to sit for dialogue with any political party for making them understand any problem with the registration process, but "not over any other content of the revised Representation of People Order (RPO), promulgated on August 19".
"There's no scope for discussing the contents of the RPO other than about implementing the contents," he said, ruling out the possibility of any change to the politico-electoral law that makes it mandatory for the parties to disown their variegated political front organisations.
He mentioned that during the two-phase dialogue of all political parties with the EC, the parties agreed on all matters except three issues - introduction of 'no vote', ban on party fronts abroad, and election expenditure.
Replying to a question, the CEC said the commission has asked the government to take necessary steps to woo all political parties into the general election.
Asked what if Khaleda Zia-nominated BNP Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain applied for registration on behalf of the party, he said the commission would further look into the matter.
Election commissioners M Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hossain, and EC secretary M Humayun Kabir were also present at the press briefing.