EC gave lakhs of security for the post of chairman, exemption for independents
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The Election Commission (EC) has amended the rules for the upazila parishad elections and issued its notification.
This notification was issued by the Election Commission Secretariat on Tuesday (March 19).
In the notification, the amount of security for the post of chairman in the Upazila Parishad elections has been increased from Tk 10,000 to Tk 1 lakh. Besides, the security for the post of vice chairman has been increased from 5 thousand to 75 thousand taka.
In the rules, the provision of submission of lists with supporting signatures of voters in the case of independent candidates for the post of mayor in upazila parishad elections has been omitted. Also some other amendments have been brought in Election and Conduct Rules. After the vetting of the Law Ministry, these amendments were issued in the form of notification.
The EC decided on these amendments on February 20.
According to the EC, these provisions will be effective in the next upazila elections. According to the revised rules, candidates must get 15 percent of the votes cast to protect their collateral. So far it was one eighth. Apart from this, candidates will have to submit their nomination papers online.
Candidates can campaign through PR and social media before allotment of symbols. Candidates can make colored posters and banners in addition to black and white. Besides, the EC's power to suspend the election results and order a re-poll has been clarified in the rules.
481 Upazila Parishad votes in four phases
481 Upazila Parishad elections will be held in four phases next May. The first phase of voting will be held on May 4, the second phase on May 11, the third phase on May 18 and the fourth phase on May 25.