Dhaka: BNP on Tuesday sought time until 15 September from the Election Commission (EC) to submit its audit report on its financial transaction in 2014 calendar year.

The deadline for submission of the audit report by BNP expires on 31 July next.

A two-member BNP delegation, led by its assistant office secretary Asadul Karim Shahin, sought the time extension through a letter to the EC.

They handed over the letter to EC additional Secretary Mukhlesur Rahman at about 11:15am.

Talking to reporters, Shahin said they could not prepare the audit report in time as their party acting secretary general and office secretary could not attend office properly due to their arrest in political cases.

He said though their acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was released on bail on 14 July, six months after his arrest, he is now abroad for treatment.

Replying to a question, Shahin said they also could not hold their party council as their most senior leaders are either facing ‘false’ cases or in jail.

Earlier on Sunday, the ruling Awami league sent a letter to the EC seeking extension of the time until 31 August to place its audit report.

The EC in the last month sent reminders to all 40 registered political parties about the 31 July deadline.

According to the Political Parties Registration Rules 2008, a party has to get its total transactions on a calendar year audited by a chartered accounting firm and submit a copy of the firm's report to the commission by 31 July of the subsequent year.

As per the article 90H (1)(c) of the Representation of the People Order, the registration of a political party may be cancelled if it fails to submit the audit report in time for three consecutive years.