The National Citizens' Party (NCP) has formally requested the Election Commission (EC) to extend the deadline for political party registration by at least 90 days.
The new political party, formed by the youth leadership of the July mass uprising, made the request in an application submitted to the Senior Secretary of the EC on Thursday afternoon.
The application, submitted at the EC Secretariat in Agargaon, was signed by NCP's Joint Convener Mujahidul Islam Shahin, Tajnuva Zabin and member Moniruzzaman. The application, titled 'Request for Extension of Deadline for Election Commission Reform and Political Party Registration,' outlines the party's concerns about the current registration process.
In the letter, the NCP pointed out the irregularities and electoral misconduct that occurred during the previous three national elections under the leadership of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's government and its subservient Election Commission. The NCP accused the past administration of rigging elections through tactics like fake votes and 'night votes' to elect Members of Parliament without public participation. The party also cited the controversial local government elections, which were allegedly conducted under the directives of Sheikh Hasina's government, as further evidence of electoral manipulation.
The NCP emphasized that their formation was a direct response to the public demand for change, following the historic July-August mass uprising against inequality and fascism. The uprising led to the eventual escape of Sheikh Hasina and the formation of an interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, which initiated several reformative actions, including the creation of a commission to reform the election system. However, the NCP claimed that there has been no significant progress on these reforms.
