, July 19 -- BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday said it is up to the Election Commission (EC) and the courts to determine who is eligible to contest the upcoming local government elections.

"The local government elections will be held in a non-partisan manner. Who can contest and who cannot is a matter for the courts and the Election Commission. They will determine eligibility in accordance with the existing laws," he said while talking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

Rizvi, also the PM's political adviser, made the remarks replying to a question about Awami League's participation in the local government elections.

Earlier, a three-member BNP delegation submitted the BNP's annual financial stat...