Why should use of political party symbols, affiliations remain illegal

The High Court yesterday asked the Election Commission and government to explain in two weeks why they would not be ordered to allocate or use electoral symbols and identities of political parties in local government elections.

Issuing a rule, the court also ordered them to show cause as to why relevant electoral rules restricting the allocation and use should not be declared unconstitutional.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman came up with the rule following a writ petition challenging the legality of relevant provisions in four electoral rules.

The four are City Corporation (election conduct) Rules, 2010; Union Parishad (election conduct) Rules, 2010; Pourasava (election conduct) Rules, 2010; and Upazila (election conduct) Rules, 2013.

Muhammad Aminur Rahman, head of Bangladesh Sanskritik Muktijote, a registered political party, submitted the petition on April 19.

The petition said the restriction went against people's fundamental rights to freedom of expression, guaranteed by the constitution.

The EC and secretaries to the ministries of law, and local government and rural development were made respondents, petitioner's counsel Uzzal Hossain told The Daily Star.