Decision on Awami League left to EC: Rizvi
Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Photo snapped from video footage.
The discussions now revolve around the local government elections and the participation of the Awami League (currently banned). BNP has once again clarified its position on this matter. Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, emphatically stated that the decision on whether Awami League leaders and activists can run as candidates in the election rests entirely with the Election Commission (EC) and the courts.
Responding to journalists' questions at the Election Commission in Agargaon, the capital, today (Sunday), Rizvi said, "This time, the local government elections are not being held under party symbols. Therefore, who can or cannot contest is a matter for the courts and the Election Commission. They will decide after reviewing what is stipulated in the existing laws."
Earlier today, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi submitted the party's income and expenditure statement to Akhtar Ahmed, the Senior Secretary of the Election Commission. He made these remarks later at a press conference.
When asked about BNP's stance on Jamaat-e-Islami's letter to the Election Commission demanding that Awami League be barred from participating in the local government elections, Rizvi said that what other political parties say is not a matter of concern for BNP. The Election Commission has the full responsibility to decide who can participate in the elections according to existing laws.
"We have left the matter to the commission," he added.
