Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has put forward a series of recommendations suggesting amendments to the laws governing local government elections, with the aim of disqualifying MPO-listed teachers, dual citizens, and individuals holding offices of profit from participating in local body polls.
According to United News of Bangladesh, these recommendations also encompass disqualifying loan defaulters, their guarantors, and defaulters of utility bills from contesting in local government elections. Additionally, the proposals include integrating the Armed Forces into the definition of ‘law enforcement agencies’ within the relevant laws, facilitating the deployment of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel during local body elections.
The recommendations were finalized at the commission’s 12th meeting held at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon area, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Following the meeting, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed informed reporters that the EC has completed these recommendations to streamline the laws associated with various local government bodies, including Union Parishad, municipalities, Upazila Parishad, city corporation, and Zila Parishad. Ahmed stated that the proposals would soon be forwarded to the Local Government Division.
Explaining the proposals, Ahmed highlighted the recommendation to declare teachers and employees of MPO-listed educational institutions as ineligible to contest local government elections. The proposed disqualifications also extend to loan defaulters and their guarantors, defaulters of utility service providers like electricity and WASA, owners of firms with outstanding loan or utility bill defaults, dual citizens, and holders of offices of profit.
Furthermore, the EC suggested amendments to local government election laws to include the Armed Forces in the definition of “law enforcement agencies,” enabling the deployment of military personnel during local government elections, akin to the provisions under the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
Beyond election laws, the commission deliberated on several proposed amendments related to the National Identity (NID) system. Ahmed revealed that the EC plans to introduce an online voter migration system, allowing voters to apply for transferring their registration area online for a fee. The commission also proposed revising NID renewal rules, necessitating applicants to submit additional family information for the NID database’s family tree system.
Moreover, the EC intends to lower the minimum age for collecting citizens’ biometric data and issuing NID cards from the current 16 years. The decision on whether data collection should commence at the primary, Class-VIII, or secondary school level will be determined later. The commission also aims to delegate authority to field-level offices to amend dates of birth in NID records based on recognized public examination certificates, simplifying the current central processing system.
To streamline overseas voter registration, the EC proposed reducing the existing two-step verification process. Under the new system, Bangladeshi expatriates would be able to directly upload their biometric information after application submission, with verification and approval completed centrally by the EC.
Akhtar Ahmed concluded by stating that preparations for the local government elections are underway alongside the ongoing legal reform process.