Dhaka, July 19 -- Dhaka, July 19 (UNB): BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday said decisions on who will or will not get to participate in the upcoming local government elections are matters for the court and the Election Commission (EC), not political parties.

He also noted that the elections this time are returning to the non-partisan format, which means political parties will not be direct participants, nor will their symbols be used. They can however back candidates.

"Whether someone will contest the election or not is a matter for the court and the Election Commission. What other political parties say is not the issue," Rizvi told reporters after submitting BNP's audited financial report for 2025 to the EC ...