EC prepares for local govt elections including Dhaka, Ctg city corporations

The Election Commission (EC) has begun preparations to hold elections for Dhaka North and South City Corporations and Chattogram City Corporation.

Officials of the EC's election management wing said letters have been received from the Local Government Division asking the commission to take steps to organise polls in the three city corporations. The matter will be placed before the commission for approval.

According to separate letters sent by the Local Government Division, the first meeting of the current Dhaka South City Corporation was held on 2 June 2020, and its five-year tenure expired on 1 June 2025.

The current Dhaka North City Corporation held its first meeting on 3 June 2020, and its tenure expired on 2 June 2025.

The first meeting of the current Chattogram City Corporation was held on 23 February 2021, and its tenure will end on 22 February.

Under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, a city corporation's term is five years from its first meeting, and elections must be held within 180 days before the expiry of the term.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud told TBS that local government elections would be held sequentially after Eid.

"We will conduct the local elections one after another. Elections will continue throughout the year," he said.

Following the July 2024 uprising, the government removed elected representatives of 12 city corporations, 330 municipalities, 497 upazila parishads and district councils after mayors and chairmen resigned. Administrators are currently running these bodies, except union parishads. However, Shahadat Hossain became mayor of Chattogram City Corporation following a court order.

Shahadat Hossain said the absence of elected representatives at the local level has hampered development activities and made service delivery challenging. He called for early elections in all city corporations.