Seven political parties including National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), who participated in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, have failed to submit their election expenses to Election Commission (EC), even after the stipulated time has been extended twice.

The EC on Thursday sent show cause letters to these parties, asking them to reply why they should not be fined Tk 10,000 for their failure to submit election expenses within the designated time.

The other four parties are -- Amjanatar Dal, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Bangladesh Muslim League (BML), and National Democratic Movement (NDM).

Under the Representation of the People Order, 1972, political parties must submit election expenditure accounts within 90 days of the gazette publication of election results.

The 13th national election and referendum were held on February 12, and the following day EC issued a gazette of naming the winners.

There are 56 registered political parties in the country. Of them, 50 participated in the national polls.

Nearly four and half months (134 days) after the gazette publication, the EC was yet to receive these expenditure statements from seven parties. 

The initial deadline to submit poll expenses accounts was May 13.

Within this time, a total of 27 political parties submitted their poll expenses to EC. The EC later extended the deadline to June 13.

Asked what measures will EC take against the parties who failed to meet the deadline, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told The Daily Star, few political parties did not submit their election expenses to the commission, and of them one asked for an extension.

The EC secretary said the commission will go by book and take decision accordingly.