RAJSHAHI, Mar 15 (UNB): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said on Thursday five city corporations, including the one of Rajshahi, will go to polls in July next.
"The polls to five city corporations will be held by July next before the national election. The decision on it will be finalised at the Commission's meeting. But, we've initially made July as our target to hold the polls," he said.
The CEC disclosed this while talking to reporters after distributing smart cards among voters in Paba upazila's Damkurahat High School field in the morning.
He said the Election Commission (EC) will hold a meeting very soon to set the schedules for Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Gazipur city corporations' elections.
Huda said they have already started taking preparations for conducting the city polls.
The CEC also said they are likely to hold the 11th parliamentary elections at the end of December or in January next year.
He said they have a plan to use Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in the city polls as they did in the past.
He, however, said the Commission will decide it in its meeting at how many centers they will use the EVM.
According to the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry data, the tenure of Khulna City Corporation will end on September 25, while that of Rajshahi City Corporation on October 5, Barishal City Corporation's on October 23, Syhlet City Corporation's on October 8 and Gazipur City Corporation's on September 4.
As per the city corporation laws, the EC must complete holding polls to any city corporation within 180 days of the expiry of its five-year term.
