Bangladesh ends use of party symbols in local government elections

The decision follows recommendations from the Electoral Reform Commission and the Local Government Reform Commission on the matter

The government has issued ordinances amending the relevant laws to repeal clauses that allowed the use of party symbols in local government elections.

The ordinances were issued on Monday.

On Jul 1, the local government ministry prepared drafts of four separate ordinances and sent them to the Cabinet Division.

Following the approval of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division through the Advisory Council, the ordinances were published in the form of a gazette.

The Advisory Council approved the drafts on Jul 24.

The then Awami League government introduced the use of party symbols in local government elections in 2015.

In the years that followed, violence and partisan influence in these polls steadily increased.

Since then, political parties and election experts have raised objections to the practice.

The Electoral Reform Commission and the Local Government Reform Commission, both formed under the interim government, also recommended abolishing party symbols in local elections.