The Election Commission has turned the BNP's request for reschedule of candidates for vacant seats where its aspirants were disqualified following the court’s order.
Briefing the media on Sunday (Dec 23), its Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said that the existing electoral laws do not permit it.
The decision came during a Commission meeting earlier in the day, he said before adding, “After going through the BNP’s pleas, the Commission thinks there’s is no legal option to consider it.”
Secretary Ahmed made it clear that the BNP will not be able to field fresh candidates as well as there’s no option to postpone the voting in the seats.
The BNP and its allies are left with as many 16 seats without any candidates following orders from the High Court.
The party had filed petitions with the Commission twice seeking an opportunity to nominate new candidates or postpone the voting in those constituencies.