Ehsanul Haque Jasim :
The drafts amendments to the laws, which propose to hold polls to the local government bodies on party-basis, are likely to be placed in the Cabinet again to keep the councilor and U/P member posts free from party-banner.
Sources said, after changes to the draft laws, Mayor candidates in the municipality polls, and Chairman candidates in the Upazila Parishad and the Union Parishad (U/P) polls will only get the party symbol.
According to the Cabinet sources, the ‘Local Government (Pourashava) (Amendment), Bill, 2015’ is likely to be placed again in the tomorrow (Monday)’s Cabinet meeting to bring the changes proposed by the Law Ministry.
The Cabinet in its November 9 meeting approved the bill. Later, it was sent to the Law Ministry for vetting. The ministry has recommended not allowing the party symbol for the ward councilor candidates in municipality polls. The recommendation will be placed in the Cabinet meeting for approval, said an official of the Law Ministry.
He also said, the ministry will also recommend not giving the party symbol to the member candidates in the U/P elections and other elections to the local government bodies. The recommendations will be placed later after the recommendation for the municipality polls, as the Election Commission (EC) is ready to announce the municipality polls schedule this month.
Law Minister Anisul Haq said, “The draft of the Local Government (Pourashava) (amendment), Bill, 2015 was sent to us for vetting. We have recommended giving party nomination only for the Mayor candidates. The Cabinet will take final decision in this regard.”
The Cabinet is its October 12 meeting approved fourth other draft laws on local government bodies polls, paving the way to hold the polls on party basis. The draft laws were sent to the Law Ministry for vetting, and the ministry is going to place its recommendations on the draft laws.
Meanwhile, the EC is ready to announce polls schedule for the municipality polls after finalising the electoral code of conduct. Gazette for the code of conduct is likely to be issued soon after getting law ministry’s approval.
Although the further amendment will come to the ‘Local Government (Pourashava) (Amendment), Bill, 2015’, the EC will have no problem to hold the municipality polls in December, as an ordinance in this regard has already been passed.
According to sources of EC Secretariat, the commission has already directed its officials in all municipalities across the country to select polling stations and keep voter lists ready. EC Secretary Sirajul Islam said that they are ready to hold the municipality elections by December.
The EC also asked the secretaries of education ministry and primary and mass education ministry to keep ready their educational institutions under municipality areas to be used for polling centres.
According to the proposed code of conduct, the government service holders will have to wait for three years after retirement to take part in the municipality polls. Earlier, unlike parliamentary polls, the officials could contest in municipality polls immediately after the retirement.
Besides, there is another provision in the rules that allows the incumbent mayors to take part in the polls without resigning from the post. Election Commissioner Shah Newaj said not only municipality polls, the mayors can take part in parliamentary elections without quitting the office of municipality mayor.
The proposed code of conduct lifts bar on electioneering by ministers, MPs and others enjoying government facilities.
The drafts amendments to the laws, which propose to hold polls to the local government bodies on party-basis, are likely to be placed in the Cabinet again to keep the councilor and U/P member posts free from party-banner.
Sources said, after changes to the draft laws, Mayor candidates in the municipality polls, and Chairman candidates in the Upazila Parishad and the Union Parishad (U/P) polls will only get the party symbol.
According to the Cabinet sources, the ‘Local Government (Pourashava) (Amendment), Bill, 2015’ is likely to be placed again in the tomorrow (Monday)’s Cabinet meeting to bring the changes proposed by the Law Ministry.
The Cabinet in its November 9 meeting approved the bill. Later, it was sent to the Law Ministry for vetting. The ministry has recommended not allowing the party symbol for the ward councilor candidates in municipality polls. The recommendation will be placed in the Cabinet meeting for approval, said an official of the Law Ministry.
He also said, the ministry will also recommend not giving the party symbol to the member candidates in the U/P elections and other elections to the local government bodies. The recommendations will be placed later after the recommendation for the municipality polls, as the Election Commission (EC) is ready to announce the municipality polls schedule this month.
Law Minister Anisul Haq said, “The draft of the Local Government (Pourashava) (amendment), Bill, 2015 was sent to us for vetting. We have recommended giving party nomination only for the Mayor candidates. The Cabinet will take final decision in this regard.”
The Cabinet is its October 12 meeting approved fourth other draft laws on local government bodies polls, paving the way to hold the polls on party basis. The draft laws were sent to the Law Ministry for vetting, and the ministry is going to place its recommendations on the draft laws.
Meanwhile, the EC is ready to announce polls schedule for the municipality polls after finalising the electoral code of conduct. Gazette for the code of conduct is likely to be issued soon after getting law ministry’s approval.
Although the further amendment will come to the ‘Local Government (Pourashava) (Amendment), Bill, 2015’, the EC will have no problem to hold the municipality polls in December, as an ordinance in this regard has already been passed.
According to sources of EC Secretariat, the commission has already directed its officials in all municipalities across the country to select polling stations and keep voter lists ready. EC Secretary Sirajul Islam said that they are ready to hold the municipality elections by December.
The EC also asked the secretaries of education ministry and primary and mass education ministry to keep ready their educational institutions under municipality areas to be used for polling centres.
According to the proposed code of conduct, the government service holders will have to wait for three years after retirement to take part in the municipality polls. Earlier, unlike parliamentary polls, the officials could contest in municipality polls immediately after the retirement.
Besides, there is another provision in the rules that allows the incumbent mayors to take part in the polls without resigning from the post. Election Commissioner Shah Newaj said not only municipality polls, the mayors can take part in parliamentary elections without quitting the office of municipality mayor.
The proposed code of conduct lifts bar on electioneering by ministers, MPs and others enjoying government facilities.
