Municipality Polls on Party Line
Ordinance issued, finally
UNB
An ordinance was issued yesterday on the amendment to electoral laws, paving the way for holding the municipality polls on party line, reports UNB.
President Abdul Hamid promulgated the Local Government (Pourashava) (amendment), Ordinance, 2015 as Parliament is now not in session.
Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain confirmed UNB about the issuance of the ordinance.
The new amendment will allow the Election Commission to arrange countrywide municipal elections on party basis in December next as per its plan while the political parties will be able to nominate candidates for the polls with their party symbols.
Earlier on October 12, the Cabinet approved drafts seeking amendments to four laws and one ordinance, aiming to hold local government polls on partisan basis or through party symbol or independently.
The four other amendment bills approved by the cabinet are Local Government (Union Parishad) (amendment) Bill, 2015, Upazila Parishad (amendment) Bill, 2015, Zila Parishad (amendment) Bill, 2015 and Local Government (City Corporation) (amendment) Bill, 2015.
According to the Election Commission, there are 323 municipalities, 488 upazilas, more than 4500 union parishads and 11 city corporations in the country.
Earlier on October 28, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said they were waiting for the ordinance for holding the municipality polls on party line.
He said they had started preparing the election code of conduct for municipality polls as the Commission will not get much time for arranging it.
