BNP Standing Committee Member MK Anwar met with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Sunday to convey to him their displeasure regarding the matter.
He threatened to start a campaign against the EC if BNF is allotted the symbol.
The EC after receiving the complaint sent out a media statement in the evening that dismissed talks about the commission adding ‘Sheaf of wheat’ to its list of symbols only to provide it to BNF.
The statement said that some national dailies published news reports that cited the CEC to say that the move was being considered but that the CEC made no statements of this nature.
On Jul 11, the main opposition party made a verbal complaint against BNF that applied for registration.
Anwar said, “There is a constitutional crisis in the country. We are concerned. A crisis similar to one-eleven is being planned to destroy the BNP.”
He said a party named BNF applied for registration with an image of BNP’s founder, the party’s flag and ‘Sheaf of Wheat’ as electoral symbol, as opposed to the BNP’s ‘Sheaf of paddy’.
“There is no difference between these symbols when printed on the ballot. Their images look very much alike. Sheaf of wheat is not even in the list of EC’s symbols. Still there is a plot to register this party.”
The BNP leader believes it was not the right decision to select BNF for registration since it is a rootless organisation. There are many outfits like that.
The EC selected BNF and Sangskritik Mukti Jote out of 43 interested groups ahead of the 10th parliamentary elections. They were given 15 days to complete their information after the conclusion of the inquiry into organisational structures.
Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told bdnews24.com, “The commission will take a decision after considering all aspects. No one has been given registration yet. Symbols will be provided after registration.”
Meanwhile, BNF President Abul Kalam Azad said BNP’s claims were baseless.
“We are coming out in continuation of BNF founded by Ziaur Rahman and on his ideals. This group is not to break the BNP. The BNP will fall apart on its own because they have failed to keep it together.”
