The High Court yesterday in a ruling asked the Election Commission to explain why it would not be ordered to assign party symbols or use identities in local government elections such as city corporations.
The court also ordered to explain why the electoral rules that restrict assigning party symbols or using party identities in local government polls should not be declared unconstitutional.
The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman issued the ruling in response to a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the four electoral rules that impose the restrictions.
“The court asked the Election Commission, local government secretaries and the Law Ministry to come up with explanations within two weeks,” the petitioner’s counsel, Uzzal Hossain, told reporters.
Muhammad Aminur Rahman, head of Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote, a registered political party, filed the writ petition on Sunday.
In the petition, he challenged the legality of the relevant provisions of the City Corporation (election conduct) Rules 2010, Union Parishad (election conduct) Rules 2010, Pourashava (election conduct) Rules 2010 and Upazila (election conduct) Rules 2013.
“Assigning and using party symbols and identities in local body elections are prohibited in the provisions, but it is against the people’s fundamental rights to freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution,” Aminur said in the petition.
