Dhaka:The Election Commission has announced that the upcoming union parishad elections will be conducted in five phases, with the first phase taking place on January 21 next year.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the election schedule was decided during a meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah provided details on the election dates following the meeting.
The second phase of the elections is set for February 4, followed by the third phase on April 29, the fourth on May 13, and the fifth on May 27. Sanaullah indicated that around 4,300 union parishads have either completed their terms or will be eligible for elections during this period, as per legal requirements.
All phases of voting will occur on Thursdays, with district election officers responsible for announcing the specific schedules for their respective union parishads. Typically, schedules are announced about six weeks before voting, with the gap between the announcement and polling ranging from 38 to 45 days.
Sanaullah also mentioned the peaceful nature of the latest national election and expressed hope for continued cooperation from all stakeholders to maintain the standard of good elections. Initially, the Election Commission had planned to hold the union parishad elections in seven phases starting on November 12. However, after consultations with relevant ministries and departments, the elections were postponed to avoid clashing with public school examinations in November and December. Further discussions led to the finalization of the current election schedule.