BNP, allies to apply
for registration today
Parties amend constitutions to meet EC criteria Staff correspondent

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote will apply for registration with the Election Commission before the submission deadline expires this afternoon, alliance leaders said. The highest policy making bodies of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami Sunday evening approved draft amendments to party constitutions in line with the criteria set by the Election Commission under the amended Representation of People Order. BNP standing committee sources said, the amendments to the party constitution include: make a balance of power between the party chairperson and the standing committee, keeping 33 per cent of all committee positions reserved for women, finalisation of nomination of candidates by the party’s parliamentary board from lists forwarded by district committees, keeping no affiliated bodies consisting of students, labourers and other professions and keeping no foreign units. There will, however, be no bar on any individual or group of individuals forming associated bodies and foreign units upholding ideals of the party. These bodies and units are free to run by their own constitutions, according to the amendments to the party constitution.