The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The Election Commission (EC) imposed bar on the incumbent mayors of city corporations and municipalities to contest in the upcoming parliamentary polls retaining their present posts.

The decision was taken in line with the Representation of the People's Order (RPO), EC officials said on Monday.

The Commission at meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda in the chair took the decision after a long discussion on opinion of legal experts on 'office of profit' in the RPO.

Terming the posts of mayors as 'office of profit', the EC said, according to the RPO, a person is not qualified for election as a member of parliament, if he holds an 'office of profit' in the service of the republic or a statutory body.

The Commission decided to ask the Returning Offices to reject the nomination papers during scrutiny of nomination papers if any mayor of city and municipality submit nomination papers retaining their post.

The mayors, however, may contest in the polls after tendering their resignation from the posts, the Commission decided.

The EC's legal expert, earlier, opined that that mayors are not qualified to compete in the national election since they enjoy financial and other benefits from statutory authorities like city corporations and municipalities.

The issue came up following reports that mayors of Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna are preparing to contest in the next parliamentary polls slashed for December 18.

The EC officials said, as per rules in the Local Government (Upazila Parishad) Ordinance 2008, a person shall not be allowed to contest in the election to Upazila Parishad if he holds office in a local government organisation or parliament.

The incumbent mayors and chairmen can only contest in the upazila polls if they step down from their existing posts before filing nominations.