HC upholds RPO provision requiring political alliance partners to contest polls with own party symbols
The writ petition was originally filed on 27 November, challenging the legality of the amended provision in the RPO and seeking its cancellation
The High Court has upheld the provision of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) requiring political parties to contest the upcoming 13th national election with their own party symbols, even if they form an alliance.
Lawyers have said that the order means all parties in any political alliance will have to participate in the election using their respective symbols.
The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar delivered the verdict this evening (11 December), rejecting a previously issued rule that questioned the RPO provision's legality.
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On 3 November, the president issued an ordinance on the amendment of the RPO, keeping the provision that in an electoral alliance, candidates will have to contest the national election under their own party symbol.
Under the amended ordinance, any registered political party joining an alliance for the upcoming election will still be required to contest under its own electoral symbol. This means alliance-nominated candidates cannot use the symbol of a more prominent or partner party.
Previously, alliance partners were allowed to contest using any symbol belonging to a member of the coalition. The Advisory Council of the interim government had approved the draft amendment in principle on 23 October.
On 1 December, the High Court issued the rule asking why the provision should not be declared illegal. The Election Commission was given 10 days to respond. After hearing the rule, the court passed its judgment today.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) became a party to the writ on 10 December, with its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir filing the application.
The writ petition was originally filed on 27 November, challenging the legality of the amended provision in the RPO and seeking its cancellation.
The petition was filed by Mominul Amin, secretary general of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), which is led by Bobby Hajjaj. The chief election commissioner and other relevant officials were made respondents.
