LGRD poll schedule in Sept, first phase voting in Dec: CEC
The Election Commission (EC) plans to announce the schedule for the upcoming local government elections by September, although it may be pushed to October depending on the overall situation, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin said on Thursday.
The commission’s main objective is to complete the first phase of local government elections by the end of this year, he said.
The CEC made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Election Commission headquarters after paying a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday.
Nasir Uddin said the commission is considering the schedule in light of upcoming public examinations, Durga Puja and other social and religious festivals.
“Despite these challenges, we have a clear plan to begin the local government elections within this year,” he said.
December voting planned
The CEC said the EC has requested the relevant authorities to avoid holding annual examinations in November.
“If the examinations can be completed within November or adjusted to some extent, it will be possible to arrange voting from December,” he said.
He noted that determining election dates is challenging because the EC does not have complete control over the national calendar.
The SSC examinations are also scheduled for early next year, making it necessary for the commission to consider all relevant factors before finalising the election timetable.
EC seeks presidential support
Speaking about his meeting with the President, the CEC said they discussed various aspects of the elections during the nearly 40-minute meeting.
The commission sought the President’s overall support in holding a credible, transparent and widely accepted local government election.
The President assured the commission of all necessary cooperation, Nasir Uddin said.
According to the CEC, the President expressed his sincere desire to work towards strengthening democracy and giving it an institutional foundation in the country.
Thakurgaon-1 by-election preparations complete
The CEC also said the President was informed that the EC is fully prepared to hold the Thakurgaon-1 by-election alongside the local government elections.
The commission will soon hold a meeting with senior officials of the country’s law enforcement agencies regarding security arrangements for the two elections.
Necessary procurement and other logistical preparations have also been completed, he said.
Voters in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election will also have the option of casting their ballots through postal voting.
Asked again about the local government election schedule, Nasir Uddin said the commission’s administrative preparations were complete, but examinations, national festivals and other state programmes must also be taken into account.
He said the final election dates would be determined soon after consultations and coordination with all relevant stakeholders.
