No legal bar on MPO-listed teachers contesting local elections, law minister says

There is no legal bar on MPO-listed teachers becoming candidates in local government elections, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said. His remarks are expected to clear much of the uncertainty among teachers interested in contesting local polls.

The minister made the comments while answering journalists' questions after inaugurating the new building of the Jhenaidah Primary Teacher Training Centre at around 11am on Monday. He was asked at the venue about the government's position on MPO-listed teachers taking part in elections.

The minister said that, just as MPO-listed teachers have taken part in local government elections before, they will be able to take part in the same way for now. In other words, he made clear that no new legal obstacle has been created to their candidacy.

At the same time, the law minister said the government is hopeful of holding local government elections in a fair and orderly manner. He called on people to keep faith in the government on this matter.

The minister's Jhenaidah visit was not limited to the building inauguration. Earlier in the morning, he attended a meeting of the management committee of the 250-bed Jhenaidah General Hospital as chief guest.

Officials from the district administration, the police department and the district health department, along with local BNP leaders and activists, were present at that meeting. Hospital management and services were discussed there, it was learned.

In answer to another question from journalists, the law minister also spoke about the government's position on the resignation of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain. Ishraq has recently faced criticism and resignation discussions over taking part in a drive with a weapon in hand.

On this, Asaduzzaman said that if anyone has done something contrary to the expectations of ordinary people, the prime minister will take the final decision on the matter. In his words, nobody here is above the law.

The law minister's comment made the government's position on the Ishraq issue clearer still. He delivered two messages together: that the decision rests with the prime minister, and that no one is above the law.

Returning to the MPO-listed teachers, teachers at a large share of the country's non-government educational institutions are MPO-listed. Their interest in becoming public representatives at the local level is longstanding, and many teachers have contested local elections in the past.

That is why, at this time of election preparation, the law minister's statement is significant for interested teachers. The assurance from the government's law minister is that those who wish to be candidates can proceed within the existing rules.

What remains to be seen is how teacher candidates participate once the schedule and nomination process for the upcoming local government elections are under way, and whether any further direction on this matter comes from the Election Commission.