The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and some other political parties yesterday received their certificates of registration from the Election Commission (EC) while certificates for 13 others parties are ready to delivery.

The parties so far awarded the certificate include Jatiya Party (Ershad), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Workers' Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu).

Liberal Democratic Party was the first to receive its certificate on October 20.

"We have registration certificates ready for another 13 parties and have already sent fax messages to the respective party offices requesting them to collect the certificates from EC secretariat," deputy secretary of the EC's scrutiny committee Jasmine Tuli told journalists.

The four parties have also been allocated election symbols: 'paddy sheaf' for BNP, 'plough' for Jatiya Party, 'winnow' for Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and 'umbrella' for LDP. Other parties to have registration certificates ready include Awami League (boat), Jatiya Party-JP (bicycle), Communist Party of Bangladesh (scythe), Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (wheel), Krishak Sramik Janata League (gamchha), Bangladesh National Awami Party (hut), and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD (torch) and Gonotontri Party (pigeon).

The Commission has finalised the process of registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab), Oikyabadha Nagarik Andolan, Zaker Party, Gano Forum, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Gano Front and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP-Andalib) after scrutiny of documents submitted to EC.

The commission also started hearings on yesterday of objections against registration of four parties: Islami Oikyo Jote, Khelafat Majlish, Jamiate Olamaye Islam and Nezame Islami Bangladesh.

BNP joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan, after receiving the certificate from EC secretary Humayun Kabir, told reporters: "We are very happy."

"Our party was never against the registration with EC," he added.

However, he refused to comment when asked about the party's decision to join the election.

CPB general secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said registration of parties is not an important thing to comment. Bangladesh has much more important issues, that are really important to people, to be solved.

JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Howlader said registration of political parties would play an important part in ensuring the election free, fair and acceptable.

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda in his address to the nation on Sunday said no candidates other than those of registered parties and independents could take part in the elections.

EC joint secretary NI Khan who is entrusted with the task of scrutiny told newsmen that the process of registration would be completed by November 10. He indicated that around 25 political parties would be finally given the certificate out of 107 parties, which applied for registration.