BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday said the eligibility of leaders and activists of Awami League to contest the upcoming local government elections would be determined by the court and the Election Commission (EC) in accordance with the law.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a BNP delegation, led by him, submitted the party's audited income and expenditure statement for the January–December 2025 period to the Election Commission at the Election Bhaban in Agargaon.
Asked whether leaders and activists of the Awami League would be allowed to contest the upcoming local elections, Rizvi said the polls would not be held on party symbols.
"Whether someone can contest or not is a matter for the courts and the Election Commission. They will decide in accordance with the prevailing laws," he said.
Rizvi said it was the Election Commission's responsibility, not that of political parties, to determine who is eligible to contest under the existing legal framework and any new laws that may be enacted.
"We leave the matter to the Election Commission," he added.
Earlier, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud told Dhaka Tribune that a candidate's political affiliation would not determine eligibility for the local government elections. Instead, eligibility would be assessed based on the legal criteria for qualification and disqualification, meaning anyone meeting those requirements would be allowed to contest.
The Election Commission plans to hold elections to several tiers of local government bodies in October, with the election schedule likely to be announced by the end of August or in September. Union Parishad and municipality elections are expected to be held first.
Responding to a question on whether the BNP would endorse candidates in the local government polls, Rizvi said that since the elections would not be conducted on party symbols, the party's highest policymaking body would decide the issue.
"No decision has been taken yet," he said.
