EC begins preparations to hold local government polls from October

One commissioner says they commission will coordinate with the government before deciding which local polls will be held first

The Election Commission has begun preparations to hold local government elections from October, Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said.

He said the EC will consult the government before deciding when each set of local polls will be held.

Speaking to reporters at an event organised by the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) at the EC headquarters on Monday, Masud said the commission favours a phased start to Union Parishad and municipality elections after considering the practical challenges.

“All elections -- city corporations, municipalities, Upazila Parishads, district councils and Union Parishads -- cannot be held together,” Masud said.

“We will discuss with the government which ones are more urgent. Based on that, we will announce the schedules.”

He said the EC is preparing to announce election schedules at least 45 days before voting.

“If elections are held in October, the schedule will have to be announced 45 days earlier. We are preparing for that,” he said.

There are currently no elected representatives in city corporations, municipalities, upazila parishads and district councils.

Explaining the practical sequence, Masud said Upazila Parishads cannot be formed unless Union Parishad and municipality elections are held first, as representatives of these bodies serve as ex-officio members of Upazila Parishads.

“Upazila elections will therefore come later. City corporations are a separate matter and are now being run by administrators. District council representatives are elected through electoral votes,” he said.

He said it would be difficult to meet all legal deadlines because the local government elections have all come due at the same time.

“At this moment, it cannot be said which election will be held first,” he said.

Masud said starting with Union Parishad and municipality elections would be more logical in practical terms.

The EC will also write to the Local Government Division seeking updated information on local bodies, including where boundary disputes exist, so that those complications can be resolved quickly.

He said they will need cooperation from the government because local elections involve boundary issues, administrative support and large numbers of personnel.

“We believe the elections will be held at the right time. But realistically, the commission will have to move forward through written and unwritten understandings with the government,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said ministers and state ministers responsible for the matter had already spoken about local government elections in parliament.

Sanaullah said the EC secretary will begin providing regular updates on the preparations from next week.

Election Commissioners Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Tahmid Ahmad, and EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed were also present at the event.