The cabinet today approved a proposal on an amendment to the Representation of People Order Act 2009, extending time for political parties by six months to submit complete constitution to the Election Commission.

According to the new RPO, amended ahead of the 2008 parliamentary polls, July 25 was the deadline for submission of permanent constitutions, after ratification, of the 39 political parties registered ahead of the elections with draft constitutions. The approval came in line with the appeals of the BNP and nine other political parties to the EC seeking six months to ratify the provisional changes in their constitutions.

The cabinet asked the law ministry, which placed the proposal at the cabinet meeting, to keep details on the next course of action on failure of the political parties to submit their ratified constitutions within the extended time. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. Prime minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Ruling Awami League and its key ally Jatiya Party handed in their constitutions at the EC secretariat by the deadline, after holding their councils on July 24. Election officials said some 20 parties had submitted constitution by hand or post by the deadline.