EC eyes phased local polls from October; UP and municipality elections likely first

The Election Commission (EC) is preparing to hold local government elections in phases from October, with Union Parishad (UP) and municipality polls likely to be conducted first.

"The commission would be able to complete all necessary preparations within one-and-a-half months once the required coordination with the government is completed. It could take nearly a year to complete elections for all tiers of local government institutions," Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told reporters at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka on Monday.

He said elections are due for almost all tiers of local government and must be held gradually to ensure constitutional and legal continuity.

"The commission has already started the necessary preparations targeting October," he said.

Although no formal decision has yet been taken on which tier of local government polls will be held first, Masud said Union Parishad and municipality elections are the most likely to begin the process, considering practical and administrative realities.

He explained that Upazila Parishads can only be constituted after Union Parishad and municipality elections are completed. As a result, the commission plans to hold those elections first, followed by Upazila Parishad polls.

Preparations under way; all local polls may take a year

Masud said the election schedule would be finalised after taking into account factors such as public examinations, religious festivals and observances, the monsoon season, and geographical and communication conditions across the country.

Regarding coordination with the government, he said no formal discussions have yet taken place and the commission has not received any official communication.

"However, the commission is moving ahead with all preparations on its own initiative. Once formal communication with the government begins, we are hopeful that all preparations can be completed within one to one-and-a-half months," he said.

Replying to a question, Masud said it could take around a year to complete elections for Union Parishads, municipalities, Upazila Parishads, Zila Parishads and city corporations in phases.

EVMs ruled out as revised election rules near completion

The election commissioner said amendments to the relevant laws, rules and code of conduct for local government elections are in the final stage.

A draft of the revised code of conduct has already been published on the commission's website, with opinions sought from political parties, civil society, the media and the public. The commission will review the feedback before finalising the amendments.

Among the proposed changes, the security deposit for Union Parishad candidates will be increased, online submission of nomination papers will not be allowed, and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be used.

There will also be no provision for postal ballots or election posters, in line with the system followed during the latest parliamentary election.

Masud said more than 4,500 Union Parishads are currently ready for elections.

On security, he said the commission initially plans to deploy members of the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar to maintain law and order.

The elections will be conducted region by region, with security arrangements for subsequent phases to be reviewed based on experience from earlier rounds.

Referring to the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election, Masud said domestic and international observers, as well as the media, had assessed the polls as acceptable.

"The commission will make every effort to maintain the same standard in the local government elections. Cooperation from political parties, the administration, law enforcement agencies, the media and voters will be essential to ensure credible polls," he said.

He also noted that Union Parishad elections have historically witnessed comparatively higher levels of violence due to intense local rivalries and said the commission would take special measures to minimise conflict and ensure peaceful voting.

Meanwhile, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and minister in charge of the Election Commission Secretariat Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently told parliament that the Election Commission had already begun preparations to hold free, fair, neutral and participatory local government elections within the stipulated timeframe.