The Election Commission (EC) is working with a goal to complete local government polls across the country within the next one year, placing the highest priority on meeting the timeline, reports BSS.
"Preparations for holding local government elections have already begun although final preparations are yet to be completed," Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarker told the news agency in an interview recently.
He said before arranging the elections, the EC is preparing a comprehensive roadmap considering amendments to necessary laws, rules and policies, budget allocations, administrative readiness, and seasonal realities.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at the Deputy Commissioners' Conference on May 5 that efforts would be made to complete all local-level elections within a year.
Earlier, during the first session of the 13th National Parliament, the Local Government Minister said that based on past experience, completing elections for all levels of local government in the country generally takes between 10 months and one year.
He noted that local government elections are usually held in phases nationwide, and completing elections for all levels-including Union Parishads, municipalities, Upazila Parishads, and city corporations-requires a long period of time. In the interview, Anwarul Islam said, "Our top priority right now is local government elections. We are preparing to hold these elections. Preparations are not fully completed yet, but our target is to finish all elections in phases within one year."
Asked when the local government elections might begin and which elections would take place in which phase, he said the EC is not yet able to provide a specific timeline.
According to him, the EC is formulating an integrated work plan, and only after finalising it, they will be able to provide details about schedules, phases, and probable dates.
He said EC's target is to complete the elections within one year as polls will be held in phases.
Asked whether the process would begin with city corporation elections, he said it has not yet been decided which elections would be held first and which later. The Commission will decide after considering all relevant aspects.
The Election Commissioner also said that the EC is currently reviewing existing laws, regulations, and policies related to local government elections.
The Commission believes some legal reforms are necessary to make the election system more effective and acceptable, he said.
"We will have to amend laws and regulations for these elections. Changes to rules and policies are also necessary. These will take time," he said.
Regarding the possible timeline for amending laws and regulations, he said, "It may take around three to four months."
