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The government is moving ahead with plans to begin local government elections with Union Parishad (UP) polls in early October, aiming to complete all tiers of local elections within 10 to 12 months.
According to officials, the Election Commission (EC) is prioritising UP elections and is expected to announce the schedule in the second half of August. Polling is likely to take place in the first half of October.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the EC has prepared initial roadmaps for elections at all local government levels, including Union Parishads, upazila parishads, municipalities and city corporations. The final roadmap is expected to be published by the end of this month.
Once the process begins, the government plans to hold elections in phases, gradually covering municipalities, upazilas, district councils and city corporations.
Officials from the Local Government Division said preparations for UP elections are already underway.
Data on unions that have completed their five-year terms has been collected through deputy commissioners, and budget allocations have been made in the 2026–27 fiscal plan.
Authorities noted that most local government bodies currently lack elected representatives, prompting the decision to conduct elections in stages rather than simultaneously.
However, the final timeline will depend on factors such as constituency delimitation, legal amendments, electoral rules and coordination with relevant government agencies.
Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also confirmed that preparations are progressing, with a goal to begin UP elections in phases by December.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the EC is ready to organise polls in more than 4,500 Union Parishads.
Draft electoral conduct rules have already been published for public feedback and will be finalised after consultations with political parties, civil society and stakeholders.
The EC identified law and order as a key challenge, particularly in UP elections, which have historically seen intense local rivalries and occasional violence.
To address this, authorities plan to deploy police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar personnel, and to assess each phase before moving to the next.
Officials added that close coordination with the government will be essential, especially for administrative matters such as boundary demarcation.
The last UP elections began on June 21, 2021, with voting held in 204 unions across several districts.
Many of those councils have already completed their terms, adding urgency to the upcoming polls.