Political parties can be banned, not individuals - EC's clear message in election appeal hearing

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud has said that the government can ban any political party if it wants, but no individual has been banned. The concerned believe that this statement given in the appeal hearing regarding the nomination for the National Assembly election has clarified the position of the Election Commission.

He made this comment during the last day of the nomination appeal hearing held at the auditorium of the Election Commission (EC) building in Agargaon in the capital on Sunday (January 18). The hearing discussed the appeal filed by Jatiya Party candidate Md. Liaquat Ali challenging the validity of the nomination of independent candidate Abdul Latif Siddiqui from Tangail-4 constituency.

During the hearing, Liaquat Ali's lawyer argued that Abdul Latif Siddiqui is not eligible to participate in the National Assembly election for certain reasons. In response to that argument, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud clarified that the government has banned a political party, but not an individual. As a result, no one can be declared ineligible for elections just because of their political identity.

After listening to the statements and legal arguments of all parties, the Election Commission decided to uphold the validity of Abdul Latif Siddiqui's nomination. Through this, his candidacy in the Tangail-4 constituency was finally upheld.

It is worth noting that the last day of the appeal hearing against the decision of the Returning Officer regarding the selection of nomination papers in the upcoming 13th National Parliament election was Sunday. The hearing began at 10:15 am in the auditorium (basement-2) of the EC building in Agargaon. This decision of the Election Commission has created a new discussion on the legal position of individuals and parties in the electoral process.