Nationwide local-government election process begins in September or October following the end of this monsoon season, parliament was told Tuesday.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the statement in response to a question from MP Md. Mostafizur Rahman Babul of Jamalpur-3 during the budget session of the Jatiya Sangsad.
In his question, the lawmaker sought details about government plans for holding elections at various levels of local-government institutions.
Responding, Mirza Fakhrul said the government was considering holding local elections across the country in phases beginning in September or October, after the current monsoon is over.
"The plan is to complete elections to Union Parishads, municipalities, Upazila Parishads, Zila Parishads, and City Corporations within the next one year," he says.
The minister notes that the elections will be conducted gradually, subject to the availability of budgetary allocations. According to the current plan, Union Parishad elections are likely to be held first, followed by elections to other local-government bodies in stages.
He adds that elections to all 13 city corporations across the country, including the newly established Bogura City Corporation, will also be completed within the same timeframe.
Mirza Fakhrul says preparations regarding the financial requirements for organising the elections are already underway, noting that local voting requires substantial funding.
"The necessary allocations for holding these elections have been included in the national budget," he informed the House.
The minister further says that a letter has already been sent to the Election Commission seeking estimates of the detailed expenditure required for organising the polls.
"Once the new fiscal year begins, the Local Government Division, the Election Commission, and the Ministry of Finance will jointly begin work toward announcing the final election schedule."
The planned elections will mark the first nationwide local-government polls under the current administration and are expected to play a key role in strengthening grassroots democratic institutions across the country.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
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