BNP has scrapped a rule from the manifesto which bars a person facing a prison sentence from competing in the elections but the High Court ordered the EC not to accept the amendment as it’s against the constitution.
However, lawyers of both parties are yet to receive a copy of the order. It’s also not clear what step the EC has taken based on the high court order.
In 2016, BNP through a special council, amended clause 7 of the party organogram, which mentioned that any person who is deemed mentally unstable, bankrupt or is sentenced by the government will not be eligible to be a candidate for the national election or the party national executive committee.
Later, this part was changed stating that as party head, there will be a chairman while no person under 30 will become a chairman. On Jan 28, a three member team of representatives met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) K M Nurul Huda and submitted an amended organogram.
This triggered a debate over striking out clause number 7 from the amended organogram.
Meanwhile, following a writ placed by one BNP worker for not accepting the organogram, the high court ordered the EC on 31 October not to accept the changed organogram.
In such a state, the EC informed on Oct 5, the HC had two directives – not accepting BNP’s amended organogram and settle the appeal within a month. The decision will be conveyed to BNP formally but BNP has confirmed not receiving a copy of the high court order.
BNP Vice Chairman, Advocate Zainul Abedin, said, “Policy makers will decide if an appeal will be lodged or not after the order comes in hand.”