Local government elections may begin early next year, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam has said. However, the exact dates for the polls have not been finalized yet.
He made these remarks while responding to queries from journalists at a press briefing held at the Secretariat on Wednesday (23 September).
The State Minister stated that following an inter-ministerial meeting, the Election Commission (EC) indicated its intention to complete all local government elections—including Union Parishad, Upazila Parishad, Pourashava (Municipality), and City Corporation polls—by June 6 next year. However, the Ministry of Local Government has not yet been officially informed of the exact start and end dates of the elections.
The EC may schedule the elections considering factors such as Ramadan, the SSC examinations, and the annual school examinations in December. The utilization of educational institutions as polling centers is also being taken into account.
When asked whether the local government elections would begin this year, Mir Shahe Alam remarked that based on the timeframe outlined by the EC, it appears the polls will likely commence next year. However, the final decision rests solely with the EC.
He further informed that another inter-ministerial meeting may take place by late September or early October. Representatives from various ministries will attend the meeting, after which the EC will finalize the election schedule.
The government aims to conclude all local government elections within the current fiscal year. However, the decision regarding when the elections will begin will not be made by the government.
Mir Shahe Alam noted that according to preliminary estimates by the EC, around BDT 6,000 crore may be required to conduct the five tiers of local government elections. Of this amount, approximately BDT 2,700 to 2,800 crore will be needed for the Union Parishad elections, and around BDT 2,200 to 2,300 crore for the Upazila Parishad polls.
Relatively less funding will be required for the Pourashava and City Corporation elections. The State Minister added that the government is prepared to allocate funds close to the estimated amount, though the final expenditure may vary slightly.
Regarding whether the rise in fuel prices would impact the local government elections, he stated that it is too early to comment, as the election dates have not yet been finalized.
Furthermore, when asked about concerns regarding potential risks for candidates in the elections, the State Minister stated that the election schedule (schedule of polls) has not been announced yet, nor has anyone officially become a candidate. Therefore, it is premature to comment on whether candidates face any risks.
