300 municipalities will go to polls early 2010
Friday, 18 September 2009
The Election Commission (EC) is set to hold polls to 300 municipalities early next year after the formulation of regulations in line with Local Government (Municipality) Act, Election Commissioner Mohammed Sakhawat Hussain said to journalists at his office in the city Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.
"We are preparing to hold municipality polls at the end of February or the beginning of March since parliament has passed the act," the election commissioner said.
The Local Government (Municipality) Act was passed on September 14. The city corporation bill has not been placed in parliament that was adjourned until October 4.
"We cannot hold Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) polls at the start of 2010 since the law has not been passed even though we have plans," he said.
The Union Parishad (UP) polls will be held next year in phases, the commissioner said.
Among the 309 municipalities, voting in nine municipalities was held in August last year during the caretaker government regime.
Most of the remaining municipalities have already run their term.
The term of over 4,500 UP bodies has also expired.
The EC is considering going for trial electronic voting system during the DCC elections.
Hussain said: "We have plans to introduce electronic voting system at one polling centre or ward of DCC on an experimental basis.
"We will examine the technical side and whether there is skilled manpower," he said.
The DCC ended its term on May 24, 2007.
"We are preparing to hold municipality polls at the end of February or the beginning of March since parliament has passed the act," the election commissioner said.
The Local Government (Municipality) Act was passed on September 14. The city corporation bill has not been placed in parliament that was adjourned until October 4.
"We cannot hold Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) polls at the start of 2010 since the law has not been passed even though we have plans," he said.
The Union Parishad (UP) polls will be held next year in phases, the commissioner said.
Among the 309 municipalities, voting in nine municipalities was held in August last year during the caretaker government regime.
Most of the remaining municipalities have already run their term.
The term of over 4,500 UP bodies has also expired.
The EC is considering going for trial electronic voting system during the DCC elections.
Hussain said: "We have plans to introduce electronic voting system at one polling centre or ward of DCC on an experimental basis.
"We will examine the technical side and whether there is skilled manpower," he said.
The DCC ended its term on May 24, 2007.