Supporters of any party, including Awami League, eligible to contest local polls: EC

The Election Commission has finalised draft amendments to local government election rules and the code of conduct, allowing any eligible individual – including leaders, activists, and supporters of the banned Awami League – to contest local polls without a political party symbol.

The draft, finalised today (10 June), will soon be published on the EC's website for public review.

Stakeholders will be able to submit objections and opinions within a specified period. If no major objections arise, the draft will be formally approved.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud told The Business Standard the draft code of conduct contains no provision excluding members or supporters of any political party.

"As the elections will be held on a non-party basis, anyone who meets the qualifications for the position they seek can contest. Whether the person is associated with the Awami League, Jamaat, or BNP is not a consideration," he said.

Mashud said the draft regulations have been opened for public consultation and will be finalised after reviewing feedback received through the EC website.

He reiterated that political affiliation would not be considered in determining eligibility, as the elections would be conducted without party symbols.

The draft also proposes several other changes, including the removal of postal ballots from local government elections and the discontinuation of online nomination submissions.

"There will be no provision for online submission of nomination papers, and the postal ballot system has also been omitted," the election commissioner said.

He added that the draft regulations do not include any new mechanism for overseas Bangladeshis to vote in local government elections.

According to EC, the amendment process began after parliament passed legislation introducing non-partisan local government elections. As part of that process, draft revisions have been prepared for election rules governing Union Parishads and other local government bodies.

EC officials said the changes are intended to facilitate local elections without party symbols. Under the proposed rules, any citizen who meets the legal qualifications for candidacy will be eligible to contest.

The provision suggests that leaders, activists and supporters of any political party — including the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned — would be able to participate in local government elections if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Seeks public feedback on draft codes of conduct

The Election Commission has also prepared draft codes of conduct for various local government elections and published them on its website for public consultation.

According to EC, the draft regulations have been formulated in line with the amended local government election laws enacted in 2026, covering elections to Upazila Parishads, City Corporations, Municipalities, Union Parishads and Zila Parishads.

The commission said the draft rules were prepared following the publication of the 2026 amendment acts to the Upazila Parishad Election Act 1998, Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, Local Government (Municipality) Act 2009, Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009 and Zila Parishad Act 2000.

The draft regulations include the Upazila Parishad Election Code of Conduct 2026, City Corporation Election Code of Conduct 2026, Municipality Election Code of Conduct 2026, Union Parishad Election Code of Conduct 2026, and Zila Parishad Election Code of Conduct 2026.

The EC has invited citizens to submit their opinions before the rules are finalised. The drafts have been published on the commission's website and sent to registered political parties via email.

Comments may be submitted by 30 June 2026 through email at opinion@ecs.gov.bd or by post to the Senior Secretary, Election Commission Secretariat, Election Building, Agargaon.

The draft Municipality Election Code of Conduct 2026 also provides clearer definitions of "candidate" and "contesting candidate".

A "contesting candidate" is defined as a person validly nominated to contest for the post of mayor or councillor who has not withdrawn their candidacy. A "candidate" refers to any person who submits nomination papers to contest for the posts of mayor, councillor or a reserved-seat member.