Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Sunday urged Aam Janatar Dal member secretary Tarek Rahman, who is on a hunger strike demanding registration of his party, to appeal to the Election Commission following legal procedures.

Speaking at a briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday afternoon Akhtar Ahmed said the EC will consider the matter if the Aam Janatar Dal proceeds through the proper legal channels.

“The commission has already informed you through a letter of our position from a legal standpoint. Now you can appeal and address the gaps that exist. Appeal, correction, modification, or extension of time — these are usual practices,” he said.

The EC senior secretary also said any appeal from the Aam Janatar Dal should be submitted through the EC secretary’s office.

Meanwhile, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain visited the site on Sunday afternoon to express solidarity with Tarek Rahman.

 Aam Janatar Dal member secretary Tarek Rahman began a 'hunger strike unto death' on Tuesday afternoon shortly after the announcement of the EC’s decision to award registration to three other parties—National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party.

He has already spent 125 hours on hunger strike.

People from various parties, organisations, and professions including BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad expressed solidarity with Tarek.

On Wednesday morning, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party and Moulik Bangla joined the demonstration with separate sit-in programmes at the EC gate.

On March 10, 2025 the Commission invited applications from the new political parties by April 20 next to get registered ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

The EC received applications from 143 parties seeking registration within the extended deadline of June 22 last.

After scrutiny, 22 parties were shortlisted for field-level inquiries to verify the authenticity of their claims of fulfillment of registration conditions.

A total of 57 parties have so far obtained registration since the registration system was introduced before the 2008 general election.

Later, five of them lost their status but two parties regained the registration.

Besides, the registration of Awami League remains suspended.