Local govt polls to begin this October, finish by next October

Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Jahed Ur Rahman, has said that local government elections will begin in October this year and be completed by October next year.

Speaking at the government's weekly briefing on the progress of various initiatives at the Secretariat on Tuesday (July 7), he said the Election Commission has already begun preparing a roadmap for the upcoming local government polls.

Addressing complaints over inflated electricity bills issued in June, the adviser said the government would investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.

Referring to the cocktail bomb explosion at the National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Savar, he said an investigation would be conducted and those responsible would be arrested and prosecuted.

Commenting on derogatory remarks about the July uprising, Dr Rahman said such comments were "deeply unfortunate." 

However, he noted that under the existing legal framework, they do not constitute a criminal offence. He added that there could be further discussion on whether such remarks should be treated as criminal offences.

On food safety, the adviser said the government would introduce legal measures to curb unsafe food management practices. He noted that excessive chemicals are widely used in food production and preservation across the country, posing serious health risks. 

The government has decided to compile a comprehensive database of food traders and will work to raise awareness among those involved in the sector while also enforcing legal action to prevent unsafe food practices.