Dhaka, Dec. 4 -- The Election Commission has decided to register two new parties, including the Aam Jonotar Dal, whose general secretary had made headlines in early November by staging a hunger strike demanding his party's registration.

The second party selected for registration is Jonotar Dal.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Thursday confirmed the decision.

In a notice issued on the same day, the EC assigned "Projapoti", or butterfly, as the electoral symbol of the Aam Jonotar Dal and "Kolom", or pen, for the Jonotar Dal.

The EC has also fixed until Dec 9 to receive any objections to registering the parties.

On Nov 18, the National Citizen Party and the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) were registered.

Aam Jonotar Dal's Tarek Rah...