Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) has begun preparations to ensure the next local government elections are conducted in a free, fair and impartial manner, Parliament has been told.
Speaking in the House on Tuesday, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is also responsible for the Election Commission Secretariat in Parliament, said, "The electoral body had already started the necessary work to organise the polls within the required timeframe.”
Responding to a scripted question from treasury bench member Sheikh Md Rejaul Islam, the minister also said, "The EC was taking steps to deliver a credible, transparent and participatory election.”
He added, "The Commission has initiated the required preparations to ensure voters could take part in a well-managed electoral process when local government elections are held.”
The minister also highlighted measures aimed at improving voting access for Bangladeshis living abroad.
Replying to a question from National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abul Hasnat, he stated the Election Commission had, for the first time, introduced an information technology-supported postal ballot registration system for expatriate voters.
According to the minister, the system will remain in place for the next national election, with the Commission working to bring as many overseas Bangladeshis as possible under the postal voting programme to help safeguard their voting rights.
Separately, in response to a question from opposition Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Abdul Karim, Mirza Fakhrul said that the government is not currently considering any increase in the salaries or allowances of union parishad chairmen and members.
The statements were made during the question-and-answer session in Parliament, where ministers responded to queries from lawmakers on a range of governance and public administration issues.
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