DHAKA, Oct 28, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has urged the Adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to take necessary measures to retain the previous provision of Article 20 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, regarding allocation of election symbols in favour of political parties or alliances.

According to party's media cell sources, the call came through a letter from BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, dated October 25, 2025. 

In the letter, he noted that the BNP had submitted its opinions on the Election System Reform Commission's report in response to the Ministry's call for feedback from political parties.

He mentioned that although the party agreed with several amendments to different articles of the RPO, it had already expressed its opinion that no amendment should be made to Article 20 concerning the allocation of symbols to political parties or alliances.

The letter recalled earlier discussions with the Law Adviser, in which the party was assured that Article 20 would remain unchanged.

It further said the amendment to Article 20 is not acceptable and the BNP does not agree with it.

The BNP stated that in previous national elections, various political parties had formed alliances and contested under their own or allied symbols which was their political and democratic rights.

The letter observed that the proposed amendment undermines that right, adding this decision was made without consultation with key political stakeholders.

It added that the main objective of forming political alliances is to secure victory in elections, and therefore, allied parties should have the right to contest under a symbol of their choice.

The party requested that the Law Adviser take prompt action to restore the previous provisions of Article 20 of the RPO.