Five political parties, including a new one named ‘Awami League’, have applied for registration with the Election Commission (EC) in the past one month ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections.

According to an EC public notice, applications for new party registrations can be submitted until 20 April. So far, letters have been received from five parties — Awami League, Am Janatar Dal, Natun Bangla, Sommilito Islami Oikkojot, and Democratic Citizen’s Power.

Although the EC had invited applications from those interested in registering new parties ahead of the national polls, the response has been poor, with only five applications submitted so far. The application deadline is now just eight days away.

Meanwhile, the National Citizens Party (NCP) has not yet applied but plans to request the EC to extend the application period.

An EC official said the commission would wait until 20 April and assess the overall situation before taking further steps regarding new party registrations.

The lukewarm response comes after a High Court order suspended the EC’s public notification on party registration in relation to the State Reform Movement, following a writ petition. The decision appears to have discouraged several potential applicants.

K.M Ali Newaz, Additional Secretary of the Election Commission, said just two weeks after the public notice was issued, on 25 March, a party named ‘Awami League’ became the first to submit its registration application.

Notably, the new party ‘Awami League’ is headed by Uzzal Rai, a resident of Ramchandrapur village under Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur.

Location of the new party’s headquarters has been mentioned as Bangabandhu Avenue, where the head office of the original Awami League is located, but no house number has been specified in the party application.