United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission (EC) will decide whether teachers of private educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facilities will be allowed to contest local government elections, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam said on Sunday. “The Election Commission formulates the election rules and determines the eligibility and ineligibility of candidates. Now the Election Commission will consider our laws and the policies of the Ministry of Education and decide whether MPO-listed teachers can participate in the elections,” he said. The state minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a courtesy meeting between Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli and LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan at the Secretariat. He also said there is no age restriction for candidates in local government elections. The remarks came against the backdrop of the EC’s recommendations for amendments to local government laws, including provisions aimed at barring MPO-listed teachers from contesting local government elections. The proposed restrictions have drawn criticism from opposition parties. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami recently demanded that the EC withdraw the proposed provision barring MPO-listed teachers from contesting local government elections.    

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam on Wednesday assured that cattle transport ahead of Eid-ul-Azha will be free from extortion. “We assure that there will be no extortion targeting those transporting sacrificial animals. If any such incident occurs, law enforcement agencies will take strict action,” he said. He made the remarks while talking to reporters after inspecting the progress of management improvements at Gabtoli cattle market in the city and the construction of a new road to Gabtoli bus terminal in the capital. The state minister expressed hope that cattle markets and major highways will remain hassle-free during the Eid rush. “Law enforcement agencies and relevant ministries will remain alert to ensure smooth cattle market operation and uninterrupted vehicular movement on highways,” he added. Responding to a question about past incidents of extortion and disputes involving cattle-laden trucks, he said such issues were more prevalent during the long tenure of the previous government. “This time, an elected government is in place. The Prime Minister is directly overseeing matters that affect public convenience,” he said, adding that authorities are working under his instructions to ensure discipline in cattle transportation. Regarding market boundaries extending onto main roads, he said authorities are preparing for unexpected situation. “At Gabtoli, the target is to accommodate one lakh cattle but sometimes the number may exceed expectations. Traders do not inform us in advance about how many cattle they will bring or purchase,” he said. He said monitoring is ongoing and officials will conduct further inspections, he added. Additional coordination meetings will also be held to ensure proper management, said the state minister.