UP polls likely in Oct: Adviser

The government is planning to announce the schedule for local government elections in the second half of August, with Union Parishad (UP) polls expected to begin in the first half of October, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat, he said the Election Commission (EC) has prepared preliminary roadmaps for elections to union parishads, upazila parishads, municipalities and city corporations.

“The roadmaps are expected to be finalised and published by the end of this month,” he said.

According to the adviser, the EC plans to announce the election schedule in the second half of August before starting Union Parishad elections in early October.

He said the EC has divided the country into four regions for conducting local government elections: haor and northeastern areas, hill and coastal regions, riverine and char areas, and plain and urban areas.

Voting in the haor and northeastern regions is expected to mark the start of the local government election process.

Dr Rahman said there had been widespread speculation over whether local government elections would be held, particularly after administrators were appointed to many local bodies.

“However, we have repeatedly said that the election process would begin this year. As you know, elections require preparation, and we prefer to hold as many of them as possible during the dry winter season,” he said.