The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A total of 39 political parties have registered with the Election Commission (EC) to contest the upcoming ninth parliamentary elections rescheduled for December 29.

The EC has published the list of the registered political parties, which means completion of another phase in the long-drawn election preparation.

A total of 107 political parties applied to the commission for registration, and after scrutinising their documents, the EC gave registration to 39 political parties.

Nurul Islam Khan, EC joint secretary and also EC's technical committee head, said no further political party would be given registration before the ensuing polls.

Election symbols have also been allocated to the registered parties. The parties are: Bangladesh Awami League (election symbol 'boat'), Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (sheaf of paddy), Communist Party of Bangladesh (scythe), Ganotantri Party (pigeon), Worker's Party of Bangladesh (hammer), Bikalpadhara Bangladesh-BDB (kula/winnowing fan), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD Inu, (mashal/torch), Krishak Sramik Janata League (gamcha/towel), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (daripalla/measuring scale), Jatiya Party-Japa (langal/plough), Jatiya Party- JP (bicycle), Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (wheel), National Awami Party (kure ghar/hut), Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD (star), Tariqat Federation (phuler mala/wreath), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-BSD (moi/ladder), Zaker Party (golap phul/rose), Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan (batgach/banyan tree), Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (gorur gari/Cart), Islami Oikya Jote (minar/minaret), Bangladesh NAP (candle), Ganofront (fish), Progressive Democratic Party-PDP (tiger), National Peoples Party-NPP (mango), Ganoforum (rising sun), Bangladesh Muslim League (hurricane lamp) and Jomiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, (khejur gach/date tree), Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolon (Key) and Bangladesh Kalyan Party (wristwatch) among others.

The Commission on Sunday rescheduled the ninth parliamentary elections to December 29 from December 18 after hectic negotiations between the caretaker government and major parties in the past few days.