Minimum age for national polls candidates be lowered to 21, recommends Reform Commission

The minimum age for national election candidates should be reduced to 21 from 25 to pave the way for increasing youth representation in parliament, the Constitutional Reform Commission has recommended.

If this is implemented, young people, including students, will have the opportunity to run for office and represent the public, it commission, led by Professor Ali Riaz, said in the report.

In addition, the commission added, political parties nominate at least 10 per cent of their candidates for directly elected parliamentary seats from the youth demographic.

The Ali Riaz-led commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office in Dhaka.

Following the submission of the report, the government said in a press briefing that it would discuss the reform recommendations with political parties and implement those that receive broad support.