Election-hopeful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) officially objected to a new rule providing for political parties' poll contest on respective symbols despite running for election as an alliance partner.
The BNP formally submitted a protest note to the Election Commission (EC) Sunday following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at his office in Dhaka's Agargaon area.
After the letter submission, BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Ismail Zabihullah briefed reporters.
The advisory council of the interim government Thursday approved the Representation of the People Order (RPO) Amendment Ordinance ahead of the 13th parliamentary elections, abolishing the provision of common alliance symbol. The RPO amendment now awaits President's assent.
As per the Article 20 of the amended RPO, an electoral candidate must run with the party symbol despite they form an alliance with other political parties.
Mr Zabihullah said BNP does not agree with this amendment.
"We have submitted a formal letter to the CEC requesting that the previous provisions of the RPO be maintained by withdrawing from this amendment," he told the reporters.
The BNP leader also said his party previously informed the government, the EC and the consensus commission of the Article 20 in different phases in due time.
Opposing the decision, he said the fundamental objective of forming an alliance is election win. To that end, the allied political parties have the right to choose electoral symbols according to their preference.
"It is not understandable to us why a need has arisen to change this widely practised process and procedure, under which symbols have always been allocated according to the demands of the allied parties without any problems arising," he added.
Similar letter will also be sent to the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advisers' office.
Meanwhile, in a separate briefing, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the commission will take a decision on the application of BNP regarding the use of the party symbol in polls.
He was talking to the reporters following a meeting with the Commonwealth's pre-election observation mission at the EC office.
Regarding the meeting, the EC Secretary said the discussion highlighted continuous dialogue with young voters, RPOs, stakeholders, recommendations of the Reform Commission, ensuring security, prevention of technological misuse, and providing electoral assistance.
He also said the list of the polling centres for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election has been finalized. The EC is set to publish the final list today (Monday).
Meanwhile, the National Consensus Commission (NCC) continues discussions with experts as the tenure of the commission runs out to submit recommendations to the government on the implementation of the July National Charter stipulating the mass upsurge and governance recast.
Commission sources said they were working to finalise a draft and submit it before their extended time ends.
The government has extended tenure of the commission for the third time till October 31 as the squabbling political parties remained divided on the implementation method of the July Charter that was signed on October 17.
The Commission Sunday held a virtual meeting with the experts as they were yet to find a fit recommendation for mandatory implementation of the charter.
The political parties agreed on a referendum to validate the charter. However, they couldn't reach agreement on the timing of the referendum--to be held before or simultaneously with the national elections--and an order that could execute the charter.
The commission was considering constitutional order to implement the charter, but no decisions were yet final.
Justice (retd) MA Matin of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court senior advocate Sharif Bhuiyan participated, among others, joined virtually held consultation.
During the session, various recommendations for implementing the charter were reviewed, and the experts' suggestions were discussed in detail.
Commission Vice-Chair Prof Ali Riaz, members Badiul Alam Majumder and Justice Md Emdadul Haque, along with Monir Haider, special assistant to the Chief Adviser overseeing the national consensus-building process, participated on behalf of the commission.
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