Allied parties must contest the elections under own symbols: HC

The High Court on Thursday rejected a writ that questioned the legality of a provision requiring political parties to contest the upcoming national election under their respective electoral symbols, even if they form an alliance.

The High Court bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order on Thursday.

The lawyers said that even if they form an alliance in the upcoming election, each party will have to vote under their own symbols.
In the court, Senior Supreme Court Lawyer Ahsanul Karim represented the writ petition, Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu opposed the writ petition on behalf of the NCP, and Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman represented the state.


Earlier on December 1, the High Court issued a rule asking why the provision for voting under their own party symbols even if they form an alliance in the upcoming National Parliament election would not be illegal. The Election Commission was asked to respond to the rule within 10 days.

A writ petition was filed in the High Court on November 27 challenging the provision of voting under their respective party symbols in the upcoming parliamentary elections despite the alliance.

The writ seeks to quash the Representation of the People Order (RPO) by adding a provision that even if multiple parties registered in the election are in an alliance, they must vote under their respective party symbols.

The writ was filed by Mominul Amin, Secretary General of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Bobby Hajjaj.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other concerned parties have been made respondents in the writ.
On November 3, the government issued an ordinance amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO) by adding a provision that even if multiple parties registered in the election are in an alliance, they must vote under their respective party symbols.