Writ filed challenging rule requiring alliance parties to use own symbols

A writ petition has been filed challenging the provision that requires political parties within an election alliance to contest the upcoming national election under their respective party symbols.

The petition seeks cancellation of the amended clause incorporated into the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

The writ was filed on Thursday (November 27) by Mominul Islam, secretary general of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), led by Bobby Hajjaj.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other relevant authorities have been named as respondents.

Mominul Islam said the petition is likely to be heard next week by the High Court bench headed by Justice Fatema Najib. Senior lawyer Ahsanul Karim will represent the writ petitioner.

Earlier, on 3 November, the government issued an ordinance amending the RPO to mandate that even if multiple registered parties form an alliance, they must contest the election using their individual party symbols.