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Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker has said that the Election Commission (EC) plans to announce the long-awaited schedule for Union Parishad (UP) elections by the end of September.
However, the elections will not be held simultaneously in all unions across the country. Instead, voting will be conducted in phases in line with the government’s cost-cutting policy.
The election commissioner made the remarks while speaking with journalists at his office in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday.
Anwarul Islam said the EC was working to announce the election schedule by the end of the current month as part of the broader preparations for local government elections.
Holding elections in all Union Parishads at the same time would be difficult from both economic and administrative perspectives, he said. The Commission has therefore decided to conduct the polls in phases while maintaining the government’s policy of fiscal restraint.
He said the timing of the elections would also take into account students’ examinations and the academic calendar.
November and December are particularly important months for students because of examinations, he said. Since educational institutions are widely used as polling centres and teachers usually serve as presiding and polling officers, the EC will try to avoid scheduling elections during examination periods.
The dates for the UP elections will therefore be fixed either before the examinations begin or after they are completed, he added.
Addressing concerns over voter transfers, Anwarul Islam said transferring one’s voter registration was a normal and routine administrative process and should not be viewed as serving any particular political or special purpose.
To prevent misunderstandings and irregularities, the Election Commission has set specific time limits for voter transfers so that the process can be carried out in accordance with established rules, he said.
The election commissioner also clarified the EC’s position on the direct political participation of MPO-listed teachers.
He said demands had been raised for allowing MPO-listed teachers to participate directly in elections, but the Election Commission had expressed clear reservations about the issue.
According to the EC, direct political involvement by teachers could undermine a healthy, neutral and constructive environment in educational institutions. Such involvement could also compromise teachers’ neutrality and negatively affect the overall education system, he said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is preparing to introduce an IT-supported postal voting system for upcoming by-elections to make voting easier and more modern.
Anwarul Islam said the Commission’s objective was to make postal ballot voting more accessible, effective and user-friendly for ordinary voters.
He also said the EC was planning unprecedented security measures for upcoming local government elections to ensure transparency and prevent electoral malpractice.
CCTV cameras will be installed at polling centres, while the number of body-worn cameras for officials responsible for security will be significantly increased, he said.
Drone technology may also be used to prevent and monitor any disorder, while efforts are underway to address infrastructural problems at polling centres.
With adequate deployment of law enforcement personnel and stronger use of technology, the Election Commission is committed to ensuring free, fair and credible local government elections, the commissioner added.