The Election Commission has withdrawn a requirement for the submission of income tax returns for parliamentary election candidates.
It has also made conditions easier for loan and bill defaulters to be able to participate in the national elections.
Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed confirmed the news at a press conference held after a meeting with an inter-ministerial team on preparations for parliamentary elections on Wednesday.
He said: “The candidates will not have to submit income tax returns from now on. Earlier, it was mandatory to give income tax returns for all candidates but not for now. Only those who have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) will provide returns to the election commission and those who do not have it, do not need to.”
“We had sent a proposal to the cabinet to make it compulsory. But the cabinet division explained that many farmers of the country also take part in the elections. They do not have income tax returns. So the issue of income tax returns has been relaxed to ensure fair opportunity for everyone in the elections,” the secretary added.
On the topic of loan defaulters, he said: “There were provisions that candidates need to repay their loans seven days prior to the submission of nomination papers. Now they can submit nomination papers right after paying off the loan.”
According to Helal, in order to keep the election environment neutral and safe, the Election Commission has instructed the Public Security Division to arrest miscreants and drug addicts who can be potential threats to create unrest during the national election.
He said the national election schedule will be announced in the first week of November. Within the seven days of announcement of the schedule, it has been advised to take necessary action to remove all types of election campaign material.
As educational institutions will be used as polling stations and the teachers will be appointed as polling officers, and the Ministry of Education has been asked that all exams be completedby December 10.
He also said they have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to relax the visa processing procedure to facilitate foreign election observers.
