EC plans local govt polls without armed forces support

The Election Commission (EC) is considering holding the upcoming local government elections without deploying members of the armed forces, unlike national parliamentary polls, officials familiar with the process said.

According to EC sources, preparations are underway to organise the elections between November and December this year, although the final schedule will depend on the completion of legal, administrative and budgetary procedures.

At present, elections are pending in 12 city corporations, around 450 upazila parishads, more than 300 municipalities, nearly 600 union parishads and 61 district councils. Officials said another 2,800 union parishads may become eligible for election schedules by July.

Election officials noted that several legal complications, particularly over boundary demarcations, must be resolved before schedules can be announced. These include disputes related to the newly formed Bogura City Corporation and other local government bodies.

The commission is also waiting for the gazette notification of an interim government ordinance before introducing amendments to election rules and regulations.

A reform committee led by Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud has already proposed a series of changes to the local election framework. The recommendations include excluding electronic voting machines (EVMs), banning posters during campaigns, permitting social media-based campaigning, increasing security deposit requirements and prohibiting AI-generated disinformation.

Officials said the ongoing monsoon season, unresolved paperwork and pending budget allocations could push the elections towards the end of the year.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said the government aims to complete elections for all five tiers of local government within one year, possibly beginning with union parishad polls because of comparatively lower costs.

Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the commission may hold consultations with stakeholders before finalising the proposed reforms and added that the EC is currently not considering deployment of armed forces for local government elections.