Monday, 27 October, 2025
BNP on Sunday formally opposed the recent proposed amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which requires coalition-backed candidates to contest using their respective party symbols.
A two-member BNP delegation, led by BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Md Ismail Zabihullah, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city to object to the proposed provision. EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed was present.
“In the past, there was never any complication or problem regarding this issue (running election with a symbol of any partner of a political alliance), nor has any political party demanded such an amendment,” Zabihullah told reporters after the meeting.
The Council of Advisers on Thursday last cleared the draft Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 (RPO) bringing massive changes to the existing one ahead of the 13th parliamentary election planned to be held in early February 2026.
According to the article 20 of the proposed RPO, in the case of a combination of two or more registered political parties who have agreed to set up joint candidates for election, the symbol reserved for the political party to which the candidate belongs may be allotted.
“Our party does not agree with this new rule. The proposed amendment or change in the RPO is not acceptable to BNP,” Zabihullah told reporters, raising its objection to the article 20 of the RPO.
In all previous elections, political parties had formed alliances at their discretion and contested using either their own symbols or those of alliance partners, he said.
“There had been no demand from any quarter to change or amend this long-established practice,” said the BNP leader.
“When the Election System Reform Commission sought opinions from political parties, BNP made it clear that it did not support any proposal to change article 20 of the RPO, which relates to electoral symbols for parties or alliances. Our stance was officially conveyed to both the National Consensus Commission and the government.”
“But suddenly, we saw in newspapers that a proposal has been approved, making it mandatory for parties to contest in their own symbols even if they are part of an alliance. BNP does not agree with this amendment and finds it unacceptable,” he said.
“In every past election, this system worked smoothly. We don’t understand why there was any need to change such a widely accepted and effective process,” said Zabirullah, adding that such a major decision has been taken without any formal pre-consultation with the main election stakeholders, the political parties.
BNP has requested the Election Commission to retain the previous provision of article 20 of the RPO. A letter in this regard was submitted to the Commission as well, he said.
Another BNP delegation member is the party's electoral affairs committee member and former EC acting secretary Dr Mohammad Zakaria.
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BNP on Sunday formally opposed the recent proposed amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which requires coalition-backed candidates to contest using their respective party symbols.
A two-member BNP delegation, led by BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Md Ismail Zabihullah, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city to object to the proposed provision. EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed was present.
“In the past, there was never any complication or problem regarding this issue (running election with a symbol of any partner of a political alliance), nor has any political party demanded such an amendment,” Zabihullah told reporters after the meeting.
The Council of Advisers on Thursday last cleared the draft Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 (RPO) bringing massive changes to the existing one ahead of the 13th parliamentary election planned to be held in early February 2026.
According to the article 20 of the proposed RPO, in the case of a combination of two or more registered political parties who have agreed to set up joint candidates for election, the symbol reserved for the political party to which the candidate belongs may be allotted.
“Our party does not agree with this new rule. The proposed amendment or change in the RPO is not acceptable to BNP,” Zabihullah told reporters, raising its objection to the article 20 of the RPO.
In all previous elections, political parties had formed alliances at their discretion and contested using either their own symbols or those of alliance partners, he said.
“There had been no demand from any quarter to change or amend this long-established practice,” said the BNP leader.
“When the Election System Reform Commission sought opinions from political parties, BNP made it clear that it did not support any proposal to change article 20 of the RPO, which relates to electoral symbols for parties or alliances. Our stance was officially conveyed to both the National Consensus Commission and the government.”
“But suddenly, we saw in newspapers that a proposal has been approved, making it mandatory for parties to contest in their own symbols even if they are part of an alliance. BNP does not agree with this amendment and finds it unacceptable,” he said.
“In every past election, this system worked smoothly. We don’t understand why there was any need to change such a widely accepted and effective process,” said Zabirullah, adding that such a major decision has been taken without any formal pre-consultation with the main election stakeholders, the political parties.
BNP has requested the Election Commission to retain the previous provision of article 20 of the RPO. A letter in this regard was submitted to the Commission as well, he said.
Another BNP delegation member is the party's electoral affairs committee member and former EC acting secretary Dr Mohammad Zakaria.
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