Politics
EC Clears 16 Political Parties in First Screening Round

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has announced that 16 political parties, including the National Citizens Party (NCP), have passed the initial scrutiny for registration. The final decision will be made after field-level verification, EC sources confirmed.
Earlier, none of the 144 registration-seeking parties qualified in the initial screening, prompting the EC to grant 15 days to address shortcomings. In the first phase, 62 parties were issued notices, followed by 82 parties, including the NCP, in the second phase.
Under electoral law, parties seeking registration must have a central committee, committees in at least one-third of districts and 100 upazilas, a minimum of 200 voter endorsements per committee, and either a former MP or at least 5% of the vote in a previous election.
Officials said the preliminary scrutiny mainly checks these requirements, with final registration to be granted after on-the-ground verification.EC Clears 16 Political Parties in First Screening Round
Politics
Doctors advise 4–6 weeks’ rest for Nur after serious head and facial injuries

An urgent update on the health condition of Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad, was shared on his official page at 5:52 pm on Thursday (18 September). The message stated that although Nur has been discharged from the hospital, he is yet to recover fully.
Doctors advised him to take complete rest for 4–6 weeks due to severe injuries to his head, nose, and jaw. They also instructed him to avoid solid food, limit jaw movement, and speak as little as possible. Despite this, Nur has already met a few people and tried to talk, driven by political commitments.
The statement further mentioned that all meetings and conversations with him are currently suspended, urging everyone to pray for his recovery.
Nur was released from the hospital on 15 September, after 18 days of treatment for serious injuries sustained in an attack at Kakrail in Dhaka. At the time, he admitted he was not fully recovered and planned to seek further treatment elsewhere.
Politics
Jamaat and Allies Stage Demonstrations in Dhaka Over Election Reforms

Seven political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have announced a three-day program demanding the introduction of proportional representation (PR) in the upcoming national elections. The parties began their first day of demonstrations on Thursday (September 18) with rallies and processions across Dhaka.
According to the schedule, Jamaat will hold a gathering at 4:30 pm in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque before marching through Paltan, the Press Club, and Shahbagh. Islami Andolon will march from the mosque’s north premises after the noon prayers, while Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis will rally from the north gate after Asr prayers.
Separately, Khelafat Majlis will hold a demonstration at 3 pm in front of the National Press Club, with Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon and Nezame Islam Party staging protests at the same venue later in the afternoon. Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) will demonstrate near the Bijoynagar water tank at 4:30 pm.
Senior leaders including Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Islami Andolon’s Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, and Khelafat Majlis chief Mamunul Haque are expected to address the gatherings.
The key demands include full implementation of the July Charter, adoption of the PR system in parliament, ensuring a level playing field for fair polls, prosecution of past government crimes, and banning the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.
While the number of demands varies across the groups, the central goal remains the same: a free, fair, and inclusive election.
Bangladesh
Experts Propose Holding Elections and Referendum on the Same Day

A panel of experts has proposed holding a national referendum and elections on the same day to implement the July National Charter 2025. The recommendation may be forwarded to the government by the National Consensus Commission, its vice-chair Professor Ali Riaz said on Wednesday (September 17).
Speaking to reporters after discussions with political parties, Riaz explained that the expert panel suggested enacting a “constitutional order” covering key constitutional reforms. This order would be presented to the public for approval through a referendum held alongside the next national elections.
According to the proposal, if the referendum secures public support, the constitutional order will be considered valid and take effect from the date of its announcement, with the possibility of retroactive enforcement.
Riaz added that political parties have agreed in principle to implement non-constitutional reforms through ordinances or executive orders. However, consensus on constitutional reforms has not yet been finalized.
While some political parties welcomed the proposal, others expressed reservations and requested more time to narrow down alternative suggestions. The commission expects to finalize a comprehensive recommendation and submit it to the government by early October.
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