Aspirants of the Upazila Parishad polls are facing a kind of pressure after the Election Commission approved a proposal to increase the security deposits for the chairman and vice-chairman candidates.
Some incumbent chairmen, vice-chairmen and aspirants fear that the decision may encourage non-political people and the rich to contest the polls and may bar the dedicated grassroots leaders and financially insolvent people from participating in in the local body polls.
The amount of security deposits fixed for Upazila Parishad hopefuls is five times higher than the deposit submitted by MP candidates of the 12th parliamentary polls, they say, urging the commission to revise the decision.
The Election Commission on February 20 approved a proposal to increase the security deposits for the post of Upazila Parishad chairman by 10 times.
As per the decision, chairman hopeful must deposit Tk 1 lakh instead of Tk 10,000 while the vice chairman candidate will have to deposit Tk 75,000 instead of existing Tk 5,000.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post, some chairmen and vice chairmen termed the decision unfriendly and illogical one. The decision may pave the way for the business community people to participate in the polls in larger numbers, they opined.
“If the amount is increased to such an extent, it will be very tough for us to participate in the polls,” Kishorganj Upazila Parishad chairman Mamun Al Masud Khan said.
“Apart from the affluent aspirants, there are also many financially insolvent candidates. The commission should take cognizance of the matter,” he added.
Masud Khan said that the security deposit is even five times higher than that of the MP candidates.
Barhatta Upazila Parisahd chairman Mainul Haque raised a question over the increase in the security deposit.
“It is illogical and unexpected.
The decision may encourage the capitalist and put a strong barrier for the financially insolvent candidates,” he said.
Jamalpur sadar Upazila Parishad vice-chairman Akterruzzaman said that the decision will create a burden on the aspirants.
The commission should revise the decision in the interest of the grassroots politics, he said.
EC sources said the commission might have taken the decision to discourage those aspirants who do not have any connection with people and have any popularity in their areas.
Former EC member Sahul Hossain told the Bangladesh Post that the commission could have taken the decision after discussion with theelectoral law amendment committee.
“There might have genuine reasons for such increase,” he added.
The electoral law amendment committee, headed by Election Commissioner Rasheda Sultana, brought the proposal to increase the seecurty deposits.
EC secretary Jahangir Alam on Tuesday said that the proposal to increase the security deposit and other issues were approved at a meeting of the commission.
“The amendments may come into effect if the law ministry approves those amendments before the polls scheduled to begin on May 4,” he said.
