Providing dependents' income tax info in nomination form optional: EC

Hours after a demand for clarification from BNP, the Election Commission on Sunday said providing the income tax information of an aspirant's spouse, children and dependents in the nomination form would be considered as optional, reports UNB.
The EC issued the clarification in a letter sent to 69 returning officers, including two divisional commissioners, three regional election officers, and 64 district deputy commissioners, ahead of the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026.
"Regarding income tax information in serial 10 of the affidavit: providing the income tax related information of the spouse, children, and dependents mentioned in columns 2, 3, and 4 of the income tax return section shall be considered optional," the commission said in the letter.
The Commission, however, said the statement of the sources of income, assets, and liabilities of fully dependent family members, which are mentioned in the serials 6 and 7 of the affidavit, must be submitted as this requirement is in accordance with the Clause 12(3)(ka)(c) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972.
The clarification came after a three-member delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday to raise concerns about the provision.
BSS adds: Nomination papers on behalf of BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia were submitted on Sunday for the Dinajpur-3 (Sadar) constituency.
The nomination papers were formally submitted around 5 pm to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer in Dinajpur.
Dinajpur district BNP President Advocate Md. Mofazzal Hossain Dulal and General Secretary Bokhtiar Ahmed Kochi submitted the papers in the presence of party leaders and activists.
District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam received the nomination papers.
After the submission, Advocate Md. Mofazzal Hossain Dulal called upon the interim government and the Election Commission to ensure a free, fair and neutral national parliamentary election.