The Election Commission (EC) today issued a statement saying that the incumbent members of parliament (MPs) will not have to resign for contesting in the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections as independent candidates.

The statement was issued following several media reports that if any sitting MP elected with party ticket want to contest in the polls independently, s/he has to resign from the post of Member of Parliament and has to submit signatures of one percent voters of their constituency as per the Representation of the People Order-1972, said an official handout here today.

The statement also said, if any independent candidate was previously elected as a member of parliament, it will not necessary for him/her to provide the list.

“In that case, the MPs elected with party tickets will not have to resign from their posts to take part in the JS polls as independent candidates,” the statement said, adding, MPs elected through a party ticket, as an independent candidate, or from reserved seats, will be able to take part in the elections staying in their positions.

-BSS.