The Election Commission (EC) has decided to eliminate the requirement for independent candidates to submit 250 voters' signatures in the upcoming upazila parishad elections, while also raising the security deposit amount for them.
Several proposals have been approved at the commission meeting on Tuesday.
Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, the meeting approved a proposal to increase the security deposit amount of the chairman and vice-chairman posts of upazila parishad elections by 10 times.
After the commission meeting, the Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said: "The security deposit of the chairman candidates in the upazila parishad election has been increased to Tk1 lakh. At the same time, the commission has approved a proposal of Tk75,000 for the post of female vice-chairman.”
According to the current election rules, the security deposit for the chairman and vice-chairman is Tk10,000 and for women vice-chairman candidates Tk5,000.
He said the Election Commission has also approved a set of amendments, including the use of colourful posters and the proposal to remove the signatures of 250 voters in support of independent candidates.
The Election Commission had earlier announced that the upazila parishad elections will be held in four phases.
The first phase of voting will be held on May 4, the second phase on May 11, the third phase on May 18 and the fourth (final) phase on May 25.