Dhaka: State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, announced today that forthcoming local government elections will proceed without the use of party symbols. The government is poised to provide comprehensive support to the Election Commission (EC) to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and impartial manner.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister addressed the media following a meeting at the secretariat with LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke. Shahe Alam emphasized that although the elections will not feature party symbols, voters will still be able to discern the political affiliations of candidates. He reassured that this arrangement will not compromise the neutrality of the EC.
In response to inquiries about the BNP's stance on the elections, Shahe Alam clarified that directives have been issued from the party's top leadership to ensure the nomination of a single candidate per union, albeit not under the party symbol. These candidates will be recognized as BNP-backed. The minister reiterated the government's commitment to facilitating a transparent election process without granting any special advantages to BNP or any other party.
Further elucidating the government's role, Shahe Alam underscored the administration's duty to create a safe environment for campaigning and voting. The Election Commission will receive necessary assistance from both local and central administrative bodies to uphold this mandate. He highlighted directives from the current government and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, emphasizing the importance of free and impartial elections.
Discussing the electoral timeline, Shahe Alam mentioned plans to conduct five significant elections-union parishad, upazila parishad, municipality, zila parishad, and city corporation elections-within a government-mandated timeframe. Full cooperation will be extended to the EC to achieve this goal.
British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke acknowledged the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and the UK, noting over a decade of collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government. She highlighted the UK's investment of over 100 million pounds in various programs and discussed future cooperation focusing on sustainable development and climate change resilience.
Cooke also touched on current UK initiatives in the Sundarbans, aimed at addressing rural development and climate change impacts. She reiterated the UK's commitment to continue its support for Bangladesh's development endeavors.
The meeting between Bangladesh officials and the British delegation also explored waste management and investment opportunities, particularly in medical waste management and "waste to energy" projects. The UK proposed establishing a dedicated team to facilitate formal communication and coordination on these projects.
Finally, Shahe Alam revealed discussions on altering Bangladesh's fiscal year, with plans to shift to a fiscal year starting from April 1 and ending on March 31 by 2028. This change, pending a constitutional amendment, is currently in progress.