Allow MPO-listed teachers to contest local polls: Jamaat urges EC

Jamaat-e-Islami has urged the Election Commission (EC) to retain the eligibility of MPO-listed teachers to contest local government elections, arguing that disqualifying them would be discriminatory and infringe on their constitutional rights.

A Jamaat delegation presented a nine-point proposal to the EC during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday.

The meeting was part of the EC's consultations with political parties before it finalises proposed amendments to local government election laws and the draft electoral code of conduct for submission to the government.

In addition to seeking continued eligibility for MPO-listed teachers to contest local polls, Jamaat demanded the cancellation of the contractual appointment of EC Additional Secretary Shamsul Alam and called for administrators appointed to local government bodies to be declared ineligible to contest elections.

The Jamaat delegation was led by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar. The meeting was attended by CEC AMM Nasir Uddin, Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Tahmida Ahmed, as well as EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Election Commission headquarters, Porwar said the EC's decision to disqualify MPO-listed teachers from local government elections was "discriminatory."

"It will undermine teachers' constitutional rights. We have objected to this provision," he said.

"MPO-listed teachers face no restriction on contesting parliamentary elections, so why should they be barred from local government elections? They have a long history of participating in local polls. We have asked the Election Commission to reconsider its decision."

According to Porwar, the Election Commission assured the delegation that it would review the issue.

Referring to the appointment of administrators to city corporations, district councils, Upazilas and municipalities under the current BNP-led government, Porwar said those holding such positions could influence elections and work in favour of the ruling party if allowed to contest.

"We therefore believe they should be declared ineligible to run in local government elections," he said.

Jamaat also strongly criticised the recent contractual appointment of former Election Commission official Shamsul Alam as an additional secretary.

Porwar said, "This official served on a BNP committee related to constituency demarcation for the 13th parliamentary election. Appointing someone with such partisan affiliations to the Election Commission was in no way appropriate.

"The Election Commission is a constitutional institution. Appointing party-affiliated officials has called its neutrality into question. We have demanded that his appointment be cancelled."

Porwar said Jamaat had earlier submitted a seven-point proposal on Jun 30 in response to the draft electoral code of conduct, including a demand to bar leaders and activists of the now-banned Awami League from participating in local government elections.

Explaining the party's position, he said: "Politics is conducted by individuals, and contesting elections is also a political activity. Therefore, they should not be allowed to participate. We submitted seven demands on Jun 30. Today we have added two more, including retaining eligibility for MPO-listed teachers and cancelling the appointment of the additional secretary."

Porwar also alleged that although the EC is a constitutional body, it has not been able to act independently on issues such as announcing the schedule for local government elections and making appointments of its officials.

"The Election Commission has said local government elections will be held by the end of this year. Meanwhile, different ministers are giving different dates. It published the gazette notification on the Chattogram-2 parliamentary seat within hours of the court's ruling. Considering the overall situation, it appears that the Election Commission is unable to function independently," he said.

Porwar said no discussion took place outside the meeting's agenda regarding the parliamentary membership of Gazi Nazrul Islam, the lawmaker for the Satkhira-4 constituency.

Responding to a question, he said: "We have written to the speaker and the Election Commission. Expulsion from the party is the highest organisational action we can take. The issue of parliamentary membership is a constitutional matter that falls under the jurisdiction of the speaker and the Election Commission. There was no discussion on this issue at today's meeting."