Dhaka: An ordinance was issued on Monday on the amendment to electoral laws, paving the way for holding the municipality polls on party line.

President Abdul Hamid promulgated the 'Local Government (Pourashava) (amendment), Ordinance, 2015’ as Parliament is now not in session.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain confirmed UNB about the issuance of the ordinance.

The new amendment will allow the Election Commission to arrange countrywide municipal elections on party basis in December next as per its plan while the political parties will be able to nominate candidates for the polls with their party symbols.

Earlier on 12 October, the Cabinet approved drafts seeking amendments to four laws and one ordinance, aiming to hold local government polls on partisan basis or through party symbol or independently.

The four other amendment bills are 'Local Government (Union Parishad) (amendment) Bill, 2015', 'Upazila Parishad (amendment) Bill, 2015', 'Zila Parishad (amendment) Bill, 2015' and Local Government (City Corporation) (amendment) Bill, 2015'.

According to the Election Commission, there are 323 municipalities, 488 upazilas, more than 4500 union parishads and 11 city corporations in the country.

Earlier on 28 October, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said they were waiting for the ordinance for holding the municipality polls on party line.

He said they had started preparing the election code of conduct for municipality polls as the Commission will not get much time for arranging it.