All local polls to be held within a year: Fakhrul

FE Team | Published: May 05, 2026 23:18:41

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed optimism that initiatives will be undertaken to hold all local-level elections within the next year, report agencies.
"We said it before and we are saying it again - we will try to complete all local-level elections within the next one year," he said.
Mirza Fakhrul, also the BNP secretary general, made the remarks while talking to journalists after a discussion session between district administrators and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division at the ongoing four-day Deputy Commissioners' Conference-2026 in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday.
Mentioning that discussions were held at the conference on the relationship between the local government ministry and the district administration, he said "The district administrators have made some suggestions and we have accepted those suggestions."
He said the main point they wanted to convey is that local government is the biggest foundation of democracy. "It is the most powerful institution at the grassroots level. If this institution can always be strengthened, democracy will be strengthened," he added.
He further said, "We have also tried to convey that district administrators must take a leadership role. Those responsible for implementing the government's programmes, particularly those of the Prime Minister, will carry out these tasks."
Mirza Fakhrul said the most important thing is to work with the people as the people are the owners of the country.
Replying to a question from journalists, he said over the past two years it has been seen that attention was not given to the repair of roads and other infrastructures at the local level.
In response to another question, he said local government does not only carry out road repairs, it also has to ensure supply of safe drinking water and work to improve education at primary schools. These responsibilities have to be carried out comprehensively by the local government, he added.
Mirza Fakhrul further said overall, over the past 16 years, the communication of local government has been affected. "The most unfortunate thing is that there has been widespread corruption. From the ministry, we will investigate those irregularities and also ensure that such corruption does not occur in the future," he added.
He said they believe such conferences play a very important role in coordination every year. The exchange of views between district-level officials and the ministry is very effective and efforts would be made to further enhance it in the future, he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman on Tuesday said the local government elections will begin at the end of the current year.
"The election will start at the end of the year. Some preparations are needed which have already been communicated by the concerned ministry," he said while responding to questions at a press briefing at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat.
Replying to a question the adviser said the whole election process is expected to take between 10 months to a year after it begins.
Responding to another question whether the government plans to abolish Upazila Parishad following the allocation of office space for MPs at Upazila Parishad office, the adviser said no such decision has been taken yet.