Mir Shahe Alam, state minister for LGRD and Cooperatives, has said educational qualification is not mandatory for candidates in local government elections.

“In our five laws related to local government polls, there’s no provision for educational qualifications for participating in the elections. So, I urge those wishing to contest the elections not to be misled,” he said.

Shahe Alam said this while talking to journalists following a meeting with the Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh at the Secretariat on Monday.

He clarified that there is no mandatory educational requirement for contesting any post in union parishad (UP), upazila parishad, zila parishad, municipality and city corporation elections.

But the state minister said there is, of course, an age requirement. To qualify, one must be a registered voter and at least 25 years old.

“Even for members of parliament (MPs), there’s no specific educational qualification requirement. I became an MP without needing to declare any educational qualification on the nomination form,” he said.

Shahe Alam said that since the issue of educational qualification does not arise for lawmakers, we did not include it in the five laws enacted for local government, as it would be a violation of the constitution and human rights.

Noting that a social worker might not have formal schooling but could be self-educated, he said someone might not have attended an educational institution, but he/she would be talented, having knowledge blessed by Almighty Allah.