BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party opposes the amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which would require alliance candidates to contest elections using their own party's symbol instead of that of the coalition's lead party.

The BNP leader said his party would send letters to the government and the Election Commission, urging them to revise the draft.

He made the remarks while talking to journalists at his residence in Gulshan, Dhaka this afternoon.

The Advisory Council yesterday approved major amendments to the Representation of the People Order, 1972.

Salahuddin said that during discussions between the Election Reform Commission and political parties, all sides had agreed on many issues related to electoral reforms.

"But the draft of the election code of conduct and the RPO that the Election Commission has submitted through the law ministry includes changes that BNP did not agree to," he said.

The BNP leader also said that if small political parties are required to contest with their own symbols, they will not be encouraged to join coalitions.

"Neither the small political parties nor we agreed to this. I don't know why the Election Commission brought it up on its own. They had asked for opinions on the draft of the RPO ordinance, and we had given ours.

"We agreed with most of the amendments. But we never agreed to the one that says parties in an alliance cannot use a common symbol," he added.

Salahuddin said that the party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to return to the country by November.

Asked if there was any specific date for Tarique's return, he said, "You will know the exact date very soon."

Regarding which constituencies Tarique might contest in the election, Salahuddin said, "Of course, the acting chairman will take part in the election. The constituency will be decided later. He can contest from any seat in Bangladesh."

"We hope our leader Khaleda Zia will decide whether to contest the polls or not based on her health condition. We certainly want her to take part in the election," he added.