Registration of political parties
Due to the political crisis and unstable law and order situation in the country, the people welcomed the formation of the reconstituted new civil caretaker government headed by Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed.
The present Election Commission has been making all out efforts to hold our stalled elections by December 2008 as per its declared roadmap.
But as the month of December 2008 is approaching, some people are becoming impatient and getting skeptical about the prospect of the scheduled election because of the following reasons:
1. Awami League leaders demand that their party President Sheikh Hasina has to be released from prison or they may not participate in the election.
2. BNP leaders demand that their party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has to be released from prison or they may not participate in the election.
3. Some political parties demand of the Election Commission not to register the political parties which opposed the country's liberation war in 1971.
4. Some political parties demand of the Election Commission not to register political parties which practise politics based on religion.
5. The political parties demand trial of war criminals.
6. The declaration of the Chief Election Commissioner that “Many of the political parties including the BNP, which lack practice of democracy within, cannot register with the Election Commission unless the parties amend their existing constitutions.”
7. Dissent among BNP leaders.
8. Is it possible to amend the party constitution under the emergency?
9. Why did not the Election Commission issue necessary guidelines, terms and conditions for registration of political parties in time, six to eight months ago?
The functions of the Election Commission are defined in Article 119 (1) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. We are not aware of any other function as stated in Article 119 (2) of the Constitution.
Would the Election Commission kindly clarify the relevant matters?
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