Monday
22 December, 2025
News Flash
News Flash
DHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today said that party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will complete his voter registration and National Identity Card (NID) formalities on December 27 after returning to the country on December 25.
He revealed this while talking to media after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon.
As Salahuddin emerged from the meeting a journalist asked him whether the issue of Tarique Rahman’s enrollment in the voter list was discussed as he is scheduled to return home on December 25.
In reply, Salahuddin Ahmed said, “December 25 is Thursday. On Saturday, December 27, during the election period, the Election Commission (EC) offices remain open. On that day, he (Tarique Rahman) will complete everything related to becoming a voter, including voter registration and preparation of the voter ID or National Identity Card.”
Answering to another question on law and order, he said maintaining the law and order is primarily the responsibility of the government, despite the EC have the authority to transfer or appoint any civil servant in the office.
He said that there are also some provisions under which the EC has authority over administrative matters. But primarily, everything is the government’s responsibility.
“In this regard, we hope the electoral environment will remain conducive,” he added.
The BNP Standing Committee member said that BNP has told the government that the people also want to cast their votes freely and independently in a festive atmosphere this time. “So, we hope the law and order situation will gradually improve,” he said.
Regarding the meeting with the CEC, Salahuddin Ahmed said they drew his attention to several issues and handed over a written letter on behalf of the party.
He said they sought clarification on several issues related to nomination papers. Firstly, candidates have been asked to provide certain information regarding cases in the nomination forms, including submission of certified copies of order sheets in cases where accused persons in criminal cases have been released on bail.
He pointed out that such a requirement does not exist in the original Representation of the People Order (RPO). The RPO only requires providing information about cases. If there is any criminal case against a person, information about that case must be given, but there is no provision requiring submission of certified copies of bail order sheets, he added.
Salahuddin Ahmed further said that during the previous fascist regime, most of their nominated candidates, as well as ordinary citizens and journalists, were implicated in hundreds of fictitious cases. “We have not yet been able to trace many of those cases,” he said.
The second issue, he said, the concerns regarding the term “accused”. There are certain provisions regarding being an accused. The nomination form asks candidates to declare whether they have ever been accused in a criminal case, to which they must answer “yes” if correct or “no” if incorrect, while at the same time providing information about cases.
He said that with thousands of cases, who filed FIRs against whom and who filed complaint cases against whom, will all come into consideration.
Salahuddin said the Election Commission is examining these matters and has assured them that they will look into the issues with due importance.
The third issue, he said, is the requirement to open a bank account for meeting election agents’ expenses. “We have requested them to clarify this matter at the earliest,” he added.
BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Ismail Zabiullah and former Acting Secretary of the Election Commission Dr Mohammad Zakaria were present at the meeting.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed were present.
