Local govt bill passed
The Jatiya Sangsad last night passed the Local Government (municipality) Amendment Act-2015, paving the way for chairmen hopefuls to contest municipality polls on political parties' ticket.
The Election Commission is likely to announce the polls schedule within two or three days, said EC sources.
LGRD Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain placed the bill in parliament on November 15. The House passed it by a voice vote.
Under the new legislation, independent candidates will also be able to run for mayor after meeting some specific criteria.
However, the councillor aspirants will contest the polls independently like the previous elections, meaning they will not participate in the polls in a partisan manner.
Some opposition and independent lawmakers opposed the bill saying that it would introduce discrimination against the councillor hopefuls as they will not be able to contest the polls under political parties' banner.
The MPs proposed sending the bill to a special committee for further scrutiny, but the House rejected the proposal by a voice vote.
So far the political parties could only extend their support to a candidate in a municipality election.
Earlier on October 12, the cabinet approved the draft of the law.
President Abdul Hamid on November 2 promulgated an ordinance amending the local government act. The ordinance stipulated that both mayoral and councillor aspirants will contest the polls in a partisan manner.
But the government later changed its decision and placed the bill in parliament, keeping the provision for holding only the mayoral polls under the banners of political parties registered with the EC.
According to EC officials, elections to around 245 out of 317 municipalities are likely to be held next month.
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