Tarique’s photo in BNP campaign – NCP’s objection

The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) has objected to the Election Commission (EC) over the use of the photo and posters of the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman by BNP-nominated candidates on the occasion of the 13th National Parliament election. The party’s central joint member secretary Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa said this during a dialogue with political parties at the Election Building in Agargaon in the capital today (November 19).
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin was present at the dialogue. Zahirul Islam Musa said, “We have clearly shown a rule that after being nominated by the party, no candidate can use his own photo, the photo of the symbol and the photo of anyone other than the party chief. We have questioned the power of the EC. I have asked the EC whether you can apply this in the case of the nationalist party BNP.”
He said, ‘Currently, the BNP party chief is Madam Khaleda Zia, but we can see that those who have been or will be nominated from BNP are using Tarique Rahman’s picture everywhere in various leaflets, posters, billboards, leaflets. We have asked the EC how you can strictly enforce it, how you can stop BNP from doing this, this will prove your (EC) power. Besides, a step of your power will be fulfilled by the people. If the EC can do this, then they will have a power.’
The NCP leader said, ‘Those who complete 18 years of age before the election should be made voters. The youth and the genjis should be brought under the ambit of the vote. The large number of genjis who are agitating should be given the opportunity to vote.’ NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said in the dialogue, ‘The referendum is supposed to be held on the election day. However, the Election Commission is not yet ready for the referendum. I do not see any preparation by the Election Commission to hold a referendum. I don’t understand how the referendum will be held. That’s why I have asked the Election Commission to start the referendum process quickly.’
He said, ‘In this vote, we have to wear our own party’s coat. We cannot wear the coat of another party. Many parties have said that even if they are in an alliance, they can use the symbol of another party. But we are saying that from now on we have to use our own party’s coat. We cannot use the coat of another party. We cannot borrow someone else’s symbol and vote. Even if you are a candidate of an alliance, you still have to vote with your own symbol.’