The National Citizen Party has issued an explanation after several media outlets reported that it objected to the use of Ziaur Rahman and Tarique Rahman’s photos in election campaigns, saying its comments were presented inaccurately.
During a dialogue with the Election Commission on Wednesday at the election building in Agargaon, Dhaka, NCP leaders raised the issue of BNP candidates using photos of acting chairman Tarique Rahman and former president Ziaur Rahman alongside the party chief. They urged the commission to take measures in line with election rules.
Speaking at the meeting, NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa said the electoral code of conduct does not allow candidates to use the photo of anyone other than their current party chief.
He said BNP activists were violating this rule.
“We questioned the Election Commission’s capability. We said your real test will be during the election. BNP’s party chairperson is Khaleda Zia. If BNP candidates use the photo of Tarique Rahman or the martyred president Ziaur Rahman, then the code of conduct must be applied,” he said.
After the dialogue, several media reports claimed that the NCP had objected to the use of Zia and Tarique’s photos, prompting the party to issue a clarification.
In an statement, NCP Central Joint Member Secretary and Law Affairs Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa said their comments were being misinterpreted. “What we said at the Election Commission today was based on the existing law. We emphasised the proper implementation of Section 7 of the ‘Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections, 2025’. These rules apply to all parties. The BNP issue was mentioned only as an example, not as a personal attack. But the way headlines have been written may send the wrong message,” he said.
Section 7 states that a contesting candidate nominated by a registered political party may use only the portrait-style photo of the current party chief on banners, leaflets, handbills or festoons, and not in a posture of leading an event or praying.
Musa said the provision means that BNP candidates may only use the photo of Khaleda Zia. “But in practice, this rule is not being followed. If this continues, we have drawn the Election Commission’s attention to the need for enforcing the code of conduct,” he added.
