Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The Election Commission (EC) has asked the commercial banks and financial institutions (FIs) for updating their information about the loan defaulters who might be candidates for the next elections.

As part of the move, the EC has sent a list of elected MPs from 1973 to 2001 to them to prepare a list of possible loan-defaulting candidates for the next parliament and upazila elections.

“We’ve received the list from the EC. The list has already been sent to all of our divisional offices across the country for taking necessary actions,” an official of Sonali Bank Ltd told BBN in Dhaka.

He also said the bank will send another directive in this connection on Tuesday, asking the officials concerned of all regional and corporate offices to prepare such lists properly.

Loan and utility bills defaulters cannot participate in the national election as per the existing representation of the people order (RPO).

According to the RPO, a person will be disqualified for the elections, if he is a loanee, other than of small loans for agricultural purposes, has deflated in repaying before fifteen days from the day of submission of nomination paper any loan or an installment thereof taken by him from a bank or financial institution.

Besides, the person will be disqualified for the elections, if he has personally failed to pay the telephone, gas, electricity, water and any other bill of any service-providing organisation of the government before fifteen days from the day of submission of nomination paper.

BBN/SI/SSR/AD-04November08-10:42 AM (BST)