EC wants Army deployment in local polls

The Election Commission (EC) has proposed making armed forces deployment a legal requirement in all local government elections as part of a sweeping package of electoral reforms that also includes tougher candidate eligibility rules, broader disqualification criteria for loan and utility bill defaulters, and significant changes to the National Identity (NID) system.

The recommendations were approved at a Commission meeting on Tuesday and will now be sent to the Local Government Division for consideration. Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the decisions while briefing reporters after the meeting.

The Commission's foremost recommendation is to incorporate a clear legal provision in all local government election laws allowing the deployment of the armed forces during polls, similar to parliamentary elections.

Akhtar Ahmed said such provisions are not included in all existing laws governing City Corporations, Municipalities, Upazila Parishads, Union Parishads and District Councils. The Commission believes the laws should be harmonised to ensure uniform security arrangements across all local elections.

The EC has also proposed expanding the list of people ineligible to contest local government elections. Under the recommendations, dual citizens and teachers of MPO-listed educational institutions would no longer be allowed to run for office.

It also wants to retain the existing restriction on people holding an "office of profit", saying they should remain ineligible to contest while serving in such positions.

Another key proposal is to broaden the definition of loan defaulters. Besides individuals who have defaulted on their own loans, guarantors of defaulted loans would also become ineligible to contest elections.

The Commission has further proposed disqualifying utility bill defaulters. Anyone with unpaid electricity, WASA, land tax or other government service bills could be barred from running. The restriction may also apply if a candidate heads an institution with outstanding bills or dues.

The meeting also discussed several reforms to the National Identity (NID) system. The EC has proposed making voter migration from one area to another entirely online, with applicants paying the prescribed correction fee.

It also plans to introduce a new NID renewal form requiring applicants to provide family information to improve the accuracy of records. A nominal renewal fee has also been proposed.

The Commission is considering collecting citizens' information before the current age of 16, although no final decision has been taken. Officials are reviewing whether the information should be collected at the primary, Class Eight or secondary level.

The EC also plans to authorise field-level offices to correct dates of birth in NID records using SSC and other recognised public examination certificates instead of processing all such requests centrally.

To simplify voter registration for Bangladeshis living abroad, the Commission has proposed allowing applicants to submit their biometric information online, while verification and final approval would be completed from Bangladesh.

Akhtar Ahmed said the Commission could only recommend legal changes, while the authority to amend the laws rests with the Local Government Division and Parliament. 

Responding to questions about the schedule for local government elections, he said the Commission had not yet decided when the polls would be held or which tier of local government elections would be conducted first.

Asked whether the recommendations would put pressure on the government, he replied: "If the government feels pressure, it is for the government to decide. How can I say whether the government will come under pressure?"