The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Loan and bill defaulters will not be allowed to contest the forthcoming elections, said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain.

Talking to reporters yesterday, he said it is not the right information that the loan and bill defaulters are being given concession during the polls.

The remarks came following some reported allegations that loan and bill defaulters are again lobbying to get party nominations.

Shakhawat Hossain said the political parties should apply to the government for permission to arrange their party councils, meant for updating their manifestoes to adapt to the changed atmosphere in the political arena.

Replying to a question, he said the ballot papers for the general and upazila elections would be printed after completing the scrutiny of the candidatures.

"Some 10 to 15 symbols will remain on the ballot papers for upazila chairman elections," he said.

Asked whether one candidate would be able simultaneously to contest both the upazila and parliamentary polls at a time, he replied in the negative saying that one candidate could apply for nomination in two places but he/she could not contest in two places.

"The candidature will be dropped out at one place during the scrutiny," he said.

He said the nomination submission for both the parliamentary and upazila elections might be completed in a single day, but the scrutiny could be completed within a day or two thereafter. The Election Commissioner said the Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) would act as returning officers during the upazila elections.