UP, Municipality polls likely from October

Union Parishad (UP) and municipality elections are likely to be held in the first phase of the local government polls, expected to begin from October.

The Election Commission (EC) is preparing to conduct the local government elections in phases. It is optimistic that all necessary preparations can be completed within one and a half months once coordination with the government is finalised.

Elections for almost all tiers of local government are now overdue and need to be held gradually to ensure constitutional and legal continuity.

Although the EC has not yet made a final decision on which tier will go to the polls first, Union Parishad and municipality elections are considered the most likely to be held in the opening phase due to practical and administrative reasons.

The commission plans to hold Upazila Parishad elections after the completion of UP and municipality polls, as the formation of Upazila Parishads depends on those elections.

According to EC sources, several factors are considered when preparing the election schedule, including public examinations, religious festivals and observances, the monsoon season, and geographical and communication conditions across the country.