STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The High Court yesterday upheld the amended provision of the Representation of People Order (RPO) that requires political parties to contest national elections using their own symbols, even when they are part of an electoral alliance.

The court discharged the rule it had issued on December 1, asking the government and the Election Commission to explain within 10 days why the provision should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar delivered the verdict after hearing arguments on the rule.

Petitioner’s lawyer Ahsanul Karim told The Daily Star that his client plans to appeal the HC judgment before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Advocate SM Azmal Hossain Bachchhu, convener of the National Lawyers Alliance (NLA), supported by the National Citizen Party, expressed satisfaction at the

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