BNP participation in two alliances causes confusion on nominees

The BNP, which has decided to be a part of two opposition alliances and to use the same symbol for both, is running into difficulties with election regulations on candidates.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has written to the Election Commission (EC) asking how candidates can be selected in two rounds, including a primary selection, and how it will register the party’s paddy sheaf symbol for candidates from both alliances.

“We are seeking clarification on the use of the symbol for our alliances and to answer questions about the candidate selection process,” said BNP Advisory Committee member Bijon Kanti Sarkar after delivering Mirza Fakhrul’s letter to the EC on Monday.

Another letter asking whether MPs would have to resign in order to run in the upcoming polls was also delivered to the EC.

The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance has decided to take part in the 11th parliamentary polls under the paddy sheaf symbol. Eight of the parties in the alliance are registered.

But the BNP has also recently joined the opposition Jatiya Oikya Front alliance with three other registered parties who have also written to the EC asking to use the paddy sheaf symbol.

The BNP, which boycotted the 10th parliamentary polls, is having difficulty with sections 12(3) (b) and 16(2) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

“The nomination forms do not have space for ‘initial nominations’,” Mirza Fakhrul wrote in his email. “This has created some confusion. The EC must clarify how the initial and final candidates should be designated.”

He asked whether the 20-Party Alliance, Jatiya Oikya Front and other registered parties should submit their nomination forms separately and whether nominations would be cancelled automatically for all the parties in the alliance after one final candidate was selected.

Asked about the matter, former EC Additional Secretary Jasmine Tuli told bdnews24.com that the Election Commission has to give a separate written consent to every candidate wishing to compete using their alliance’s symbol. The candidates also have to submit a letter to the EV on the matter. Once both sides have come to an agreement the matter can be decided by the returning officer.

According to the RPO, party symbols are for the exclusive use of party candidates unless candidates are in an alliance with the party and have approval from an official at the party’s presidential or general secretary level.

According to EC officials, more than one nominee can submit their forms to contest a single seat if they have the appropriate approval of the party’s senior leadership.

The party can then officially choose one candidate, in which case the other aspirants’ applications will be denied.

However, nominees running as part of an alliance and wishing to use their symbol need to submit signatures from the leadership of the party whose symbol they will use to the returning officer for their approval. This must be done before the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations. The Election Commission will then assign the symbols.

But, if a party has more than one nominee and the party does not pick a candidate then the applications of all the nominees will be scrapped, said EC Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan.