Dhaka, Aug 23 (V7N)- Seven registered political parties, including the National Citizen Party (NCP), have failed to submit their annual income and expenditure statements to the Election Commission (EC) within the stipulated deadline.

The EC has said legal action will be taken against the parties for violating the relevant provisions.

According to EC sources, the seven parties that failed to submit their audit reports for the 2025 calendar year are NCP, Janata Dal, Aam Janata Dal, Bangladesh JSD, Insaniat Biplob Bangladesh, Trinamool BNP and Bangladesh Supreme Party.

Of these, NCP, Janata Dal and Aam Janata Dal were registered in the latter part of 2025, while the other four received registration in 2023.

All seven parties participated in the 13th National Parliament election held on February 12 and submitted their election expenditure statements to the EC. However, they did not submit their annual financial reports within the prescribed deadline.

NCP says report was submitted late

NCP, which emerged from the student-led July mass uprising, received registration on November 19 last year. As a result, the party's financial activity covered only one month and 21 days of the 2025 calendar year.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said the party was slightly late in submitting its income and expenditure accounts. He claimed that, to his knowledge, responsible party leaders had already sent the documents to the EC.

Aam Janata Dal received registration on December 21 last year following a 134-hour hunger strike by its General Secretary Tarique Rahman. The party therefore had to report its financial activities for only the final 10 days of 2025.

Tarique Rahman said the party had not received the EC's letter, which was reportedly sent by post. However, he acknowledged the legal requirement and said the necessary documents had been collected and preparations were underway to submit the party's accounts.

Janata Dal, registered on December 11, was required to submit accounts covering 20 days of 2025. Its Secretary General Azam Khan said the party was aware of the rules but had not received any formal letter from the EC.

Deadline expired

The EC had instructed 59 of the 60 registered political parties on July 7 to submit their annual income and expenditure reports for 2025 by July 31. The instruction did not apply to the suspended registration of the Awami League.

As July 31 fell on a public holiday, the effective deadline was extended to August 2, the next working day.

Under Rule 9(b) of the Political Parties Registration Rules, 2008, registered political parties must submit their annual financial reports for the previous calendar year to the EC by July 31.

Meanwhile, Section 90(h) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) provides that a party's registration may be cancelled if it fails to provide required information to the EC for three consecutive years.

38 parties submitted reports

EC sources said 38 of the 59 parties submitted their financial reports within the stipulated period after receiving the commission's notice.

Another 13 parties sought additional time. The EC has granted them until September 30 to submit their reports.

Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), which initially failed to meet the deadline, subsequently submitted its report on August 13.

The remaining seven parties neither submitted their reports nor sought an extension.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told Samakal that the parties that requested additional time have been given until September 30. Those that failed to submit the reports are violating the law, he said.

The commission will send formal notices to the defaulting parties and take legal action accordingly, he added.

END/SMA/AJ