Union Parishad Elections: Final decision on date and process September 17
Speaking to journalists at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said. Photo: Agamir Somoy
There is no disagreement between the Election Commission (EC) and the government over holding local government elections. However, no final decision has yet been made on when the elections will be held or which process or level will be held first. After the Election Commission released a preliminary schedule for Union Parishad elections, the government said it had no information about it. The EC said the final schedule would be set after discussions with the relevant ministries and stakeholders.
Speaking to journalists at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said preliminary discussions on preparations for local government elections had been held at the commission over the past two days. Based on those discussions, a preliminary plan was prepared to hold the elections in five phases. Two additional phases have also been kept in reserve. However, the plan is not final yet.
The EC secretary said a meeting will be held on September 17 with various ministries and stakeholders directly involved in the election and voting process. The commission will seek opinions from the Ministry of Education, Local Government Division and Ministry of Home Affairs along with other relevant authorities. The commission will then finalize the election schedule based on those opinions.
Akhtar Ahmed also explained why the preliminary schedule was prepared before the September 17 meeting. He said the commission needed an idea about the preparations of the relevant parties ahead of the meeting. For this reason, a preliminary plan was prepared for elections in five phases with two additional phases kept in reserve. This will allow the relevant parties to inform the commission about their preparations.
Asked about a statement made by State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, the EC secretary declined to make a countercomment. He said whatever the state minister had said was “worthy of respect.” He said he would not show the “audacity” to make a countercomment. In his words, “No comments from my side.”
Meanwhile, at the government’s weekly press briefing on the same day, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government would decide when the local government elections would be held. He also said the EC must discuss and coordinate with the government when making decisions about holding such elections.
The information adviser made it clear that the EC has “no sole authority” over local government elections. He said the elections must be organized in coordination with the government. As the state minister had said that the government was still unaware of the possible schedule for Union Parishad elections, the government’s statement should be considered correct.
Asked whether the schedule announced by the EC was final, Zahed Ur Rahman said whether the election would be delayed or brought forward was a matter for discussion. However, he urged people not to view the issue as any kind of conflict between the EC and the government.
Earlier, the Election Commission had announced a preliminary plan to hold Union Parishad elections in seven phases starting November 12. However, according to the EC secretary, the current plan of five phases with two additional phases in reserve is not a final schedule. A final decision will be made after the commission receives opinions from the relevant parties at the September 17 meeting.
The information adviser also announced another change regarding the upcoming local government elections. He said no political party would directly participate in the local elections this time. Candidates would contest in their personal capacity without party symbols. He hoped this would create opportunities for open competition and make the election more participatory.
