BNF fails to qualify for EC registration again

The much talked-about political party Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) has failed for the second time to fulfil the conditions to be registered with the Election Commission (EC).
As per requirements, a political party must have offices in 21 districts, 100 upazilas or thanas with at least 200 supporters in each upazila or thana.
The EC officials in their second report prepared early this month said the BNF had offices at 88 upazilas. But it fulfilled two other conditions, said an EC official.
Meanwhile, the party once again filed an application for re-investigating their field offices.
"Now, we will place the report at the commission meeting, and the commission will decide whether the BNF will get more time or not," said the official.
In their first report submitted on July 6, the EC officials said the BNF was found to be existing and active in only 15 districts and 32 upazilas.
On July 17, the BNF was given 15 more days to meet the condition after the party sought more time. But in the second investigation, the EC found that the party had defaulted again.
The main opposition BNP for several times has urged the EC not to give registration to the BNF as the party used the photograph of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman and picked sheaf of wheat as electoral symbol, when BNP's symbol is sheaf of paddy.
Expelled BNP vice chairman Nazmul Huda launched the BNF early this year, and former BNP cabinet minister Prof Jahanara Begum, among others, joined the party. In March, the BNF relieved Huda of the party's convener post for “anti-party activities” and made Jahanara its acting convener.

The much talked-about political party Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) has failed for the second time to fulfil the conditions to be registered with the Election Commission (EC).
As per requirements, a political party must have offices in 21 districts, 100 upazilas or thanas with at least 200 supporters in each upazila or thana.
The EC officials in their second report prepared early this month said the BNF had offices at 88 upazilas. But it fulfilled two other conditions, said an EC official.
Meanwhile, the party once again filed an application for re-investigating their field offices.
"Now, we will place the report at the commission meeting, and the commission will decide whether the BNF will get more time or not," said the official.
In their first report submitted on July 6, the EC officials said the BNF was found to be existing and active in only 15 districts and 32 upazilas.
On July 17, the BNF was given 15 more days to meet the condition after the party sought more time. But in the second investigation, the EC found that the party had defaulted again.
The main opposition BNP for several times has urged the EC not to give registration to the BNF as the party used the photograph of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman and picked sheaf of wheat as electoral symbol, when BNP's symbol is sheaf of paddy.
Expelled BNP vice chairman Nazmul Huda launched the
See page 4 Col 5