‘5 local govt polls to be held this FY’

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Tuesday said five local government elections will be held in the country within the current fiscal.

A total of Taka 6,000 crore has been allocated in the budget for these elections, he told reporters at the Secretariat here after a meeting with Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller, reports BSS.

The Danish envoy called on LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and State Minister Mir Shahe Alam at the Secretariat this morning.

Regarding the local government elections, Shahe Alam said a meeting will be held with the Election Commission (EC) next week to discuss the local government election issues, subject to the prime minister’s approval.

He said the schedule and date of the polls will be decided by the EC.

After the discussion with the EC, the ministry will hold a briefing on the local government elections, the state minister said.

Shahe Alam highlighted Denmark’s assistance in water supply as the main topic of discussion in the meeting today.

He said Denmark will provide support for water supply management in the capital.

“Denmark will help complete the third phase of the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant project. In this phase, Denmark will provide Taka 4,500 crore for the Taka 16,000-crore water treatment plant project,” he said.

Of the Denmark’s assistance, Taka 1,500 crore will be a grant, while the government will pay the remaining Taka 3,000 crore in phases over the next 20 years, the state minister said.

“Once this project is implemented, it will be possible to treat 95 crore liters of water from the Meghna River,” he said.

In addition, he said, Denmark will provide Taka 100 crore for the Rohingyas.