DHAKA : The Election Commission (EC) is preparing to hold local government elections in phases from October, with Union Parishad (UP) and municipality polls likely to be conducted in the first phase.

"The commission would be able to complete all necessary preparations within one-and-a-half months once the required coordination with the government is completed. It could take nearly a year to complete elections for all tiers of local government institutions," said Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud in an exclusive interview with BSS at the Election Commission headquarters in the capital. 

Masud said elections for almost all levels of local government are currently due and must be held gradually to maintain constitutional and legal continuity. 

"The commission has already started the necessary preparations targeting October," he added.

He said the commission has not yet taken any formal decision regarding which tier of local government elections will be held first. However, considering practical and administrative realities, Union Parishad and municipality elections are the most likely to be held in the first phase.

He said the formation of Upazila Parishads depends on the completion of Union Parishad and municipality elections. Therefore, the commission is planning to conduct those two elections first, followed by Upazila Parishad polls.

The election commissioner said several factors are taken into account while fixing the election schedule, including public examinations, religious festivals and observances, the monsoon season, and geographical and communication conditions in different parts of the country. 

"The commission will announce the final election schedule after reviewing all these issues," he said.

Regarding formal communication with the government, Masud said no official discussion has yet taken place and the commission has not received any formal letter from the government.

"However, the commission is moving ahead with all preparations on its own initiative. Once formal communication with the government begins, we are hopeful that all preparations for holding the elections can be completed within one to one-and-a-half months," he added.

Replying to a question, he said it could take around one year to complete elections for Union Parishads, municipalities, Upazila Parishads, Zila Parishads and city corporations in phases.

The election commissioner said the work to amend relevant laws, rules and the electoral code of conduct for local government elections is now at its final stage. 

A draft of the revised code of conduct has already been published on the commission's website, and opinions have been sought from political parties, civil society, the media and the general public. The commission will review the feedback before finalising the amendments.

He said several important changes are being introduced in the revised rules. The security deposit for Union Parishad candidates will be increased, while online submission of nomination papers will not be allowed. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be used in the upcoming local government elections. There will also be no provision for postal ballots or the use of election posters, similar to the system followed in the latest parliamentary election.

Asked about the number of Union Parishads currently ready for elections, Masud said more than 4,500 Union Parishads are prepared for polling.

On security arrangements, he said the commission initially plans to deploy members of the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar to maintain law and order during the elections.

He said the elections would be held region by region, while security arrangements for each subsequent phase would be determined after evaluating the experience of the previous phase.

Referring to the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election, Masud said both domestic and international observers, as well as the media, had assessed the polls as acceptable.

"The commission will make every effort to maintain the same standard in the local government elections. Cooperation from political parties, the administration, law enforcement agencies, the media and voters will be essential to ensure credible polls," he said.

He also noted that Union Parishad elections have historically witnessed comparatively higher levels of conflict and violence because of intense local rivalries in rural areas. "The commission will take special measures this time to reduce violence and ensure peaceful voting," he added.

Meanwhile, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and the minister in charge of the Election Commission Secretariat Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently told the national parliament that the Election Commission has already initiated necessary preparations to hold free, fair, neutral and participatory local government elections within the stipulated timeframe.