EC seeks peaceful local polls

The Election Commission (EC) has announced plans to strengthen preparations for peaceful and fair local government elections, with a focus on preventing violence and ensuring wider public participation.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin made the remarks on Thursday at a programme organised by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) in the capital.

He said the commission wants to hold “bloodshed-free” local government polls and is working to build national unity among political parties, voters and other stakeholders to avoid conflict during the elections.

The CEC said the EC will launch a large-scale voter awareness campaign with support from development partners and hold consultations with relevant groups to promote peaceful participation in the electoral process.

Highlighting transparency measures, he said detailed constituency and polling station-based results from the February 12 national election remain available on the EC website for public scrutiny.

Election officials said preparations are underway for polls to thousands of local government bodies, including union parishads, municipalities, upazilas, zila parishads and city corporations.

As part of the process, the EC is revising electoral codes of conduct in line with laws governing local government institutions.

According to government plans, phased local government elections are likely to begin after the monsoon season later this year.