Following the recent conclusion of the 13th parliamentary election, the Election Commission (EC) is now gearing up for upcoming elections for three major metropolitan local government bodies.
The Local Government Division (LGD) has officially requested the EC to make necessary arrangements for conducting polls for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and Chattogram City Corporation. In response to the request, the EC has commenced preliminary preparations, with the elections anticipated to take place after Eid-ul-Fitr. Government officials have emphasized the importance of prioritizing local elections.
In late January, the secretary of the Local Government Division dispatched two separate letters to the EC. The letters highlighted the expiration of the terms for Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, and Chattogram City Corporation as per the respective first meeting dates.
Under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, elections must be held within 180 days prior to the conclusion of a corporation’s term. Since the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, numerous local government institutions have been operating without elected representatives. Only union parishads have retained their elected officials, while other bodies remain vacant.
Shahadat Hossain assumed office as the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation following a court order, but the remaining positions in various local government bodies are still vacant. The absence of elected representatives has resulted in significant challenges for residents seeking services and support from these institutions.
Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, the Local Government Secretary, informed The Daily Star that elections for the two Dhaka city corporations and Chattogram City Corporation would be prioritized, followed by elections for the other city corporations, district councils, upazila parishads, and municipalities in subsequent phases.
The EC has acknowledged the letters from the LGD and is considering the necessary steps to conduct elections. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud confirmed the receipt of the letter regarding the upcoming elections and mentioned that the commission can proceed with elections even without formal notification.
The commission is expected to announce its plans for the elections soon, with a likelihood of conducting the elections for the three city corporations after the Eid festival. Additionally, the newly appointed Local Government Minister, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has expressed the government’s commitment to swiftly organizing local government elections, aiming to make decisions promptly.
