Election Commission Eyes November Start for Union Parishad Polls

The Election Commission is pushing to start Bangladesh's union parishad elections in November, with officials promising major progress on the preparations this month. Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar said the commission hopes to begin local government voting with union parishad polls.

The timetable will take examinations into account. Polling centres will be established in educational institutions, where teachers will serve as presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers. The commission said it would take all necessary measures to ensure voting remains free, fair and free of controversy.

The planned safeguards are extensive. CCTV cameras, drones and body-worn cameras are to be deployed at all polling centres to monitor the elections. The commission has finalised a new code of conduct, incorporating several provisions used during the national elections, and expects to publish its gazette within a few days.

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Within this month, there will be significant progress, and we will be able to provide specific details. Work on the action plan is progressing at a rapid pace. We hope that we can start the local government elections with union parishad polls.

The revised rules would broadly allow posters, restrict VIPs from campaigning or using government facilities, regulate billboards, ban non-biodegradable campaign materials and introduce penalties for violations. On a demand from Jamaat to allow MPO-listed teachers to participate in local elections, Anwarul said political activity in educational institutions should remain limited to academic conduct so that politics does not enter campuses.

The commission also said the Thakurgaon-1 by-election must be held within the legally required 90-day period. An IT-supported postal ballot will be available for voters, and Anwarul said officials hoped to announce the schedule within a few days.

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We hope to declare the schedule within a few days.