The Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked the returning officer (RO) of Comilla-10 constituency to return BNP's electoral symbol to Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan, two days after taking away the symbol from him.
The RO of that constituency on Friday allocated "sheaf of paddy" to Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan, after he got his candidacy back following a court order, and Mobasher, who is an independent candidate, got the "deer" symbol.
Mobasher on Saturday filed a complaint with the EC challenging the RO's decision in this regard. He argued that the Supreme Court did not order allocating the "sheaf of paddy" symbol to Gafur Bhuiyan. It only ordered the EC to accept Gafur's nomination papers.
Both Gafur and Mobasher are BNP leaders.
The EC yesterday at a meeting went through the Supreme Court's order and decided that Gafur Bhuiyan should not be allowed to use the BNP's electoral symbol. It decided that Gafur Bhuiyan should be allocated an independent candidates' electoral symbol.
The EC in its order sent to the RO said Mobasher should be given "sheaf of paddy" symbol so that the court's order is followed properly.
Talking to reporters yesterday evening, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda confirmed the EC's decision.
Manzurur Rahman, RO of Comilla-10 constituency, told The Daily Star around 8:30pm yesterday that he received a copy of the EC's decision.
"I will act as per the Election Commission's decision," he said.