Article 70 debate irrelevant before presidential election: Gayeshwar

BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has said that raising debate over Article 70 of the Constitution ahead of the upcoming presidential election is irrelevant. He said such matters are not for the current election, and parliament may consider it through constitutional amendment if it wishes in the future.

He made the comment while speaking to journalists after the nomination of BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was declared valid at the Election Commission building in Agargaon on Sunday. Gayeshwar said the party is now ready for the election after Mirza Fakhrul's nomination for the 23rd presidential election was validated.

Responding to the demand raised by Jamaat and the 11-party alliance to amend Article 70 before the election, he said the election will be conducted according to the current constitution. Any provisions that need to be changed must be amended through parliament, and there is no point in creating confusion now.

Gayeshwar also said any decision regarding the party's secretary general position is not a matter for the Election Commission; it is the party's own organisational decision, which will be determined by the standing committee.

The BNP delegation included Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moeen Khan, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu and other leaders.