UP elections to be held in five phases from 21 January
The second phase is scheduled for 4 February, the third for 29 April, the fourth for 13 May and the fifth for 27 May.
Highlights:
- UP elections to begin on 21 January
- Five phases to end by 27 May
- Around 4,300 UPs to go to polls
- Earlier seven-phase plan revised after consultations
- EC to hold separate security meetings
- Law enforcement training to finish by November
The Election Commission (EC) will hold union parishad (UP) elections in five phases from 21 January to 27 May 2027, with around 4,300 local government bodies due for polls within the period.
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah announced the dates after an EC meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka's Agargaon today (12 October).
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The first phase of voting will take place on 21 January, followed by the second on 4 February, the third on 29 April, the fourth on 13 May and the fifth on 27 May.
District election officers will announce the schedules around six weeks before each phase, Sanaullah said, adding that the timing could vary between 38 and 45 days, with 42 days being the general timeframe.
"Approximately 4,300 UPs have completed their terms or will enter the election cycle within this period under the law. Elections to these UPs will be completed by 27 May 2027," he said.
Bangladesh has 4,588 union parishads, according to the Local Government Division. The upcoming polls will be the country's first local government elections since the BNP came to power in February, providing an early test of the ruling party's grassroots support.
Although UP elections are officially non-partisan following the suspension of party symbols, candidates often rely on political parties and local networks for support. The results could therefore influence local political dominance and the standing of grassroots leaders.
Security concerns
Asked how the EC would ensure security amid concerns over terrorism and extortion and what arrangements would be made without the army deployment seen during national elections, Sanaullah said the commission had faced even greater concerns ahead of the national polls.
"The national election was the most peaceful election in recent memory. We do not think Bangladesh is ready to move towards another conflict-ridden election. There is no voter in Bangladesh who wants a conflict-ridden election," he said.
He expressed hope that all stakeholders would help sustain what he described as a positive electoral culture.
The EC will hold separate meetings with law enforcement agencies to ensure peaceful voting, he said. At an earlier meeting, the agencies had indicated that they would complete their training programmes by November.
