Dhaka:According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Election Commission (EC) will determine the timing of the local government elections after evaluating the current conditions. EC Senior Secretary Akhter Ahmed indicated that preparations for the elections are in progress, with the voter list and necessary materials ready and polling centers prepared.
Ahmed addressed journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin and a UNESCO delegation at the EC headquarters. He emphasized the need to consider factors such as the SSC examinations, Ramadan, religious festivals, and national events before finalizing the election schedule.
The EC secretary mentioned that the State Minister for Local Government suggested holding the elections between January and June. He stated that this provides a reference point for planning, and he will update the commission accordingly.
In discussions with the UNESCO delegation, Ahmed noted the ongoing project with the United Nations Development Programme related to ballots, focusing on incorporating various issues into their training program. The meeting also covered training plans for media personnel, law enforcement, EC officials, and field-level election staff.
An inter-ministerial meeting on September 17 presented various opinions and proposals regarding the election timetable. Ahmed concluded that a definitive decision cannot yet be made based on these proposals alone.