Announced union polls schedule purely preliminary, says EC secy after state minister raises question

The proposed seven-phase schedule for the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) Elections is "purely preliminary", Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said today (15 September), following questions from the state minister for local government over the announcement.

"The local government elections will be held. That is certain. But when they will be held, what method will be used and at which levels they will take place are still under discussion," Akhtar told journalists at the EC headquarters in Dhaka's Agargaon.

He said the commission would finalise the schedule after discussions with the concerned ministry and other stakeholders on 17 September.

Akhtar said the commission had held preliminary discussions over the past two days and prepared the tentative schedule based on those discussions.

He clarified that five phases had been proposed, while two additional phases were kept in reserve.

Earlier today, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said neither the government nor his ministry had been informed about the proposed election dates.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat, he said the government had learned about the dates through newspapers, social media, and television reports.

"However, there has been no discussion between the Election Commission and the local government ministry or the government on this matter. The government knows nothing about it," he said.

The state minister said the EC usually consults the government before announcing local government election dates, with preparatory and law and order committee meetings also held to discuss issues including the budget.

He, however, acknowledged that the EC is an independent constitutional body with the authority to conduct elections.

Asked about the state minister's comments, Akhtar said he would not make a counter-comment.

"What he said is to be respected. But I would not make any counter-comment on this issue. No comments from my side," he said.

Asked whether the ministry's approval would be required, Akhtar said the commission would provide details after receiving the necessary input at the 17 September meeting.

He also said discussions with the government were an ongoing process, but declined to disclose with whom, when or how such discussions had taken place.

"Discussion is a continuing process. I am not willing to make any further comment at this moment about with whom, when or how discussions took place," he said.

The EC yesterday (14 September) announced a tentative seven-phase plan for the UP elections, with voting proposed for 12 November, 13 December, 30 December, 17 January, 4 February, 22 April, and 27 May.