The Election Commission on Tuesday requested the government to amend the electoral law and give political parties a six month extention to submit their constitutions after ratification in council sessions.
The chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda said that they have sent a proposal to the law ministry for amendment to the Representation of the People Order and the Electoral Rolls Act.
Article 90D of the Representation of the People Order Act 2009 states that ‘…the party shall submit a ratified constitution within six months from the first sitting of the ninth parliament.’ Shamsul suggested that the ‘six months’ should be changed to ‘one year’.
The first session of the 9th parliament began on January 25. As of November 2008, thirty-nine parties have registered with the EC.
Since then, BNP and nine other political parties have submitted applications to the commission seeking an extention for submission of party constitution after ratification.