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The Election Commission (EC) has finalized a set of amendment proposals to the relevant laws to make local government elections more transparent, accountable, and orderly. The proposals recommend several significant changes, including disqualifying MPO-listed teachers, dual citizens, loan and bill defaulters from becoming candidates, incorporating the armed forces alongside all law enforcement agencies, and prohibiting individuals holding profitable positions from participating in elections. The EC will soon send these proposals to the Local Government Division.
Akhter Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the EC, informed journalists about these matters on Tuesday (July 21) after the 12th meeting of the Election Commission. The meeting, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin, was attended by the other four election commissioners, the EC’s Senior Secretary, and other high-ranking officials.
The EC Secretary stated, “This provision is not explicitly present in the laws governing all law enforcement agencies. Therefore, we believe it should be included in all such laws. Regarding MPO-listed teachers and their eligibility to participate in elections, the Commission believes that MPO-listed teachers should be disqualified from participating in elections.”
He added, “Regarding loan defaulters, there are two categories: the mortgagor and the guarantor. While the individual mortgagor is already included, we have, in principle, agreed to a proposal to also disqualify their guarantors as loan defaulters from being candidates.”
The Secretary further stated, “Additionally, bill defaulters, such as those with unpaid electricity bills, land taxes, or WASA (water and sewerage authority) bills from service providers, whether individual or institutional, will also be disqualified. For instance, if I am the head of an institution and that institution has defaulted on bills, it will lead to disqualification. Individuals holding profitable positions cannot contest elections. Furthermore, the Commission believes that dual citizens should not have the opportunity to participate in elections, as you know, the constitution imposes certain restrictions on this.”
He also mentioned, “We will now send these proposed legal amendments to the Local Government Division, and they will take action if they deem it appropriate.”