The High Court (HC) has directed the Election Commission to approve the registration of Gonoshonghoti Andolon as a political party within 30 days.
The bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal gave the order on Thursday (Apr 11) after hearing a writ lodged by the party’s convener Zonayed Saki.
Gonoshonghoti Andolon applied to be registered as a political party on Dec 31, 2017.
However, on Apr 8, 2018, the EC put the application on hold saying that it doesn’t have clear explanation of two regulations of the Political Party Registration-2008 and the Representation of the People’s Order (RPO).
The party re-submitted the application with necessary correction within 15 days but the EC rejected it on Jun 19, 2018.
On Sep 23, 2018, the party served Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda with a legal notice seeking an explanation over turning down his party’s application to get registered. A plea was also filed with the HC over the matter.
On Nov 11 of last year the HC issued a rule asking why the EC should not be ordered to approve Gonoshonghoti Andolon as a political party and why the commission’s decision to scrap the plea shouldn’t be declared illegal.
The CEC, EC deputy secretary and law secretary were made respondents. The court gave the order after a hearing on the rule.