The Election Commission on Monday registered the controversial Bangladesh Nationalist Front as a political party with ‘television’ as its election symbol.
Former minister Nazmul Huda breaking away from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party had floated the party. He had, however, already quitted the party.
The BNF sparked huge controversy when it sought to be registered with the commission and ‘sheaf of wheat’ as its election the symbol which was almost similar to the BNP’s election symbol ‘sheaf of paddy’. The party had also sought approval of its logo which also resembled with the BNP’s one.
The commission, however, did not agree to allocate ‘sheaf of wheat’ and did not approved its logo asking them to seek a different election symbol and logo.
Later, the BNF sought ‘television’ as its election symbol and logo.
After handing over the registration certificate, commission secretary Muhammed Sadique told reporters that the commission registered the party as it fulfilled required criteria for being registered with the commission.
BNF chief coordinator Abul Kalam Azad received the registration certificate.
Earlier, the commission on several occasions had extended the deadline for the party to fulfil the requirements and conditions for the registration, as the party repeatedly failed to do so.
The new registration took to 41 the number of political parties registered with the commission, who, according to the Representation of the People Order 1972, can contest a general election with an election symbol reserved for the party.
Though the High Court on August 1 declared illegal the commission’s decision to register Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the commission was yet to publish a gazette notification cancelling the registration of the party.
-With New Age input
