Candidate eligibility in local govt elections a decision for the courts, EC: Rizvi

Highlights:

• Local polls will be non-partisan, without party symbols.
• Political parties may back candidates, but not contest directly.
• Rizvi says laws, not political demands, should determine eligibility.
• BNP submits its 2025 audited financial report to the EC.
• BNP says no decision yet on selecting local election candidates.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today (19 July) said decisions on who will or will not get to participate in the upcoming local government elections are matters for the court and the Election Commission (EC), not political parties.

He also noted that the elections this time are returning to the non-partisan format, which means political parties will not be direct participants, nor will their symbols be used. They can, however, back candidates.

"Whether someone will contest the election or not is a matter for the court and the Election Commission. What other political parties say is not the issue," Rizvi told reporters after submitting BNP's audited financial report for 2025 to the EC at its Agargaon office in Dhaka.

A three-member BNP delegation formally submitted the audited financial report to the EC Secretariat shortly after noon. The delegation was led by Rizvi, while other members included BNP Treasurer and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat and Assistant Office Secretary Monir Hossain.

Responding to a question about the participation of political parties in the upcoming local government elections, where Jamaat-e-Islami has already demanded that the Awami League be barred from participating, Rizvi said the issue should be determined according to existing laws.

"Our candidacy issue and who will be allowed or not allowed to contest- this is a matter for the Election Commission. This time the election is being held on a non-party basis; no party symbols will be used," he said.

He added that the EC would decide who can participate after reviewing the relevant laws.

"Whether any other political party says something or not is not important. According to the existing laws and the laws that have now been enacted, the Election Commission is responsible for monitoring who can or cannot participate in the election. We leave the matter to them," Rizvi said.

Asked how BNP would select its candidates, he said the party's highest policymaking forum would sit and make a decision later.

"No decision has been taken so far in this regard," he added.

Regarding BNP's proposed council in December, Rizvi said the party has already made an announcement about holding the council.

"The party's Secretary General has spoken about it, and BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has also said that it will definitely be held. However, the exact date or month has not yet been decided," he said.

"We hope the council will be held very soon. Once the date and month are finalised, we will inform you," Rizvi added.