This year, Bangladesh is approaching the 12th presidential election. Keeping the national election ahead, 12 new parties were shortlisted for applying in electoral registration. Among these, 10 parties were rejected including the much anticipated Gana Adhikar Parishad and AB (Amar Bangladesh) Party. The Election Commission nominated only two new parties for proceeding further: Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) and Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP).
The selection process took place on 16th July 2023 at Nirbachon Bhobon. After the Commission Meeting, EC secretary Md Jahangir Alam told the Journalists, “There were 12 parties who were short-listed for registration, among which 10 parties had given information that did not have enough relevance with the actual information”.
This rejection of these 10 parties created unrest among the parties. As a result on 17th July, these 10 parties combinedly called upon a press conference in the press club. In the press conference, Gana Adhikar Parishad arrives in two factions, after sometimes a clash erupted between two factions during the press conference, leading to a temporary escalation of tension.
Gana Adhikar Parishad
The Gana Adhikar Parishad is a new political party in Bangladesh which has debuted in 2022 under the leadership of Reza Kibria and Nurul Haque Noor. The head office of Gana Adhikar Parishad is in Paltan, Dhaka. There are 101 members of the convening committee. This political party was considered more influential compared to other new political parties but failed to meet the requirements of getting electoral registration. The current party leaders of Gana Adhikar Parishad are the former central committee leaders of ‘Bangladesh Chatra Odhikar Parishad’, a student body that emerged over the quota reform movement.
The Political Party Registration Act:
There are certain requirements that political parties must fulfill for their electoral registration to be granted.
Bangladesh has a law called ‘the Political Party Registration Act’ that clearly states that to obtain registration, an applying party must either have won at least one seat or received at least 5% of the votes in the previous two elections or have at least 22 district offices and 100 Upazila (sub-district) offices or at least 200 voter members in all metropolitan areas and 200 in each Upazila. The list of all committees elected along with the central committee and the annual report must be submitted to the Election Commission.
According to this law, the reasons for not granting registration are as follows:
• If the party’s constitution contradicts the constitution of Bangladesh
• If there are inequalities based on religion, caste, race, language, or gender
• If the party’s name, flag, seal, or any other way disrupts national or ethnic unity
• If there is an intention for establishing a dictatorial system within the organization
• If there are provisions in the constitution to establish branches or committees outside the country
Facts that went against Gana Adhikar Parishad :
Now, let’s see which provisions of the ‘Political Parties Registration Act’ has been violated by Gana Adhikar Parishad. About a year ago, when the Gana Adhikar Parishad applied for registration to the Election Commission, Reza Kibria was the party’s convener, and Nurul Haque was the general secretary. But when the registration process reached its end, Reza Kibria became a convener of one faction, and Nurul Haque became the chairman of another faction. Both sides claimed themselves as the genuine Gana Adhikar Parishad. Both factions demanded registration from the Election Commission under the same name and symbol.
Uncertainty of the Central Office of the Party
Uncertainty of the Central Office of the Party
The party’s central office is located in the Pritom Tower at Puran Paltan. Both factions, in their submitted documents to the Election Commission, claimed the same office as their own. The party has been instructed to vacate the building due to divisions within the party for due rental payment.
Discrepancy in Submitted Information
Nurul Haque on behalf of his faction of Gana Adhikar Parishad claims that they have committees in 53 districts and more than 200 members in 200 Upazilas. But various district committees, including Habiganj district, have taken Reza Kibria’s side, and there has been division among the upazila level members as well.
Those whom Nurul Haque claims to be the district committee of his faction, say that they are the committee of Gana Adhikar Parishad led by Reza Kibria (such as Habiganj District Committee). As a result, discrepancies were found in the papers and field investigation of Gana Adhikar Parishad’s district committees given to the Election Commission.
Internal Conflict
The most important issue is that both factions of Gana Adhikar Parishad are demanding separate registration under the same name, same symbol, and the same district and Upazila members. Both factions have some disagreements. Which came into light more flaunty on 17th July’s press conference. In this context, EC’s decision of rejecting Gana Adhikar Parishad from electoral registration can be taken as justified.
After the EC meeting on 16th of July, EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam states to the Journalistssated that, “The scrutiny has been done based on various factors. There is supposed to be a regional office, a committee, manpower, and many other factors that we have analyzed. After proper analysis, we have nominated these two parties with adequate papers and will be publishing a proper press release according to the law.”
“By July 26, a notice will be published in the newspapers to find out if anyone has any objection over the registration. If any, the objections will be resolved and then the next decision will be taken”, Jahangir Alam added.
