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.