EC targets Oct for 1st phase of local govt polls, schedule in Aug

The Election Commission (EC) is moving ahead with preparations to hold the first phase of local government elections in October next, with the election schedule expected to be announced in August. 

"We hope to hold the first phase of the local government elections in October. We also expect to announce the election schedule within August," Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarker told BSS in an interview today (22 July). 

The EC began preparations for the local government elections immediately after the 13th parliamentary election, he said.

The commissioner said the EC is yet decide how many phases the elections will be accomplished, however aims to complete within the shortest possible time.

He ruled out any possibility of delaying the elections, saying that it was too early to determine whether which election among union, municipality, upazila and city corporation level, will be held first. 

The sequence will depend on the overall situation, including law and order, he stated.

"For administrative convenience, once the election of a particular local government body begins, it is likely to be completed before moving on to another. However, any court directives or legal obligations will also be taken into consideration," he said.

Responding to a question, Islam said the EC has not made any decision on introducing minimum educational qualifications for local government election candidates.

He also said the commission is yet to decide whether expatriate Bangladeshis will be allowed to vote in local government elections.

The election commissioner said the successful conduct of the recent parliamentary election, which he described as free, fair and widely appreciated both at home and abroad, would serve as a model for the upcoming local government polls.

"The measures that contributed to the success of the parliamentary election are also being considered for the local government elections," he said.

The EC, he added, would take all necessary steps to minimise election-related violence and maintain the positive political culture established during the last national election.

On the election code of conduct, Islam said the revised guidelines for the local government polls are in the final stage to finalize and will be sent to the relevant ministry shortly. However, he said, the existing local government election law is adequate to conduct the polls. 

However, if the Parliament amends the law based on observations or recommendations before the elections, the EC will follow the revised legislation, he said. 

"Otherwise, the elections will be held under the current legal framework and there is no scope for postponing the local government elections," he added.