EC's 'U-turn' over local government elections

National

Dhaka Magazine Desk

Published: Tuesday, 15 September 2026

Differences have emerged between the Election Commission (EC) and the government over setting the date of the local government election. In this situation, the Commission is going to sit in an inter-ministerial meeting on September 17. The EC has said that the final schedule for the local government elections will be determined based on the decision of that meeting.

On Tuesday (September 15), Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Akhtar Ahmed said that the main decision regarding the vote will be taken at the September 17 meeting. The date for holding the vote will be determined after the meeting.

Regarding the state minister of the Ministry of Local Government's remarks, he said that the Commission is not in a position to respond to the state minister's remarks. However, the final decision on the voting date will be made at the inter-ministerial meeting.

Earlier, after the Commission meeting on Monday, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah had said that the EC has made a preliminary plan to organize elections in seven phases in 4,580 Union Parishads across the country.

According to the preliminary plan, it was said that voting would be held in the first phase on November 12, the second phase on December 13, and the third phase on December 30. Then there are proposals to hold voting in the fourth phase on January 17 of next year, the fifth phase on February 4, the sixth phase on April 22, and the seventh and final phase on May 27.

It was also informed that voting could be held in Union Parishads of 80 upazilas in the first phase. However, these dates are not final yet.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah-e Alam has clarified the government's position regarding the possible voting schedule. On Tuesday at the Secretariat, he said that although the probable schedule of the Union Parishad elections was known through the media and social media, no discussion had taken place between the Election Commission and the Ministry of Local Government or the government on this matter.

The state minister said that the Election Commission is constitutionally independent and has the power to organize elections. However, in the case of local government elections, according to established rules, the voting date is determined after discussion with the government. At that time, budget and administrative matters are also considered.

Amid such differing statements by the EC and the government, the September 17 inter-ministerial meeting has become important. Only after the meeting will the final schedule of the Union Parishad elections become clear. Therefore, a few more days will have to be waited to know whether the first phase vote will be held on November 12 as per the EC's preliminary plan.