Following the conclusion of the 13th National Parliament election, the Election Commission (EC) has begun preparations for a series of upcoming elections. The commission plans to hold elections for 50 reserved women’s seats in the national parliament during Ramadan. At the same time, the Sherpur-3 postponed election, and the by-election for Bogura-6—vacated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the BNP chairperson—are scheduled to take place after Eid-ul-Fitr. At the same time, the EC aims to initiate local government elections.
According to EC sources, elections at the local government level will start with the Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, and Chattogram City Corporation, for which the Local Government Division has already sent a letter to the commission. After these three city polls, elections will be held phase-wise for the remaining nine city corporations, district councils, municipalities, and upazila councils. If the government approves, union council elections may also be conducted.
Following the government’s fall on August 5, 2024, the caretaker government removed the representatives of 12 city corporations, 330 municipalities, 497 upazila councils, and 64 district councils after mayors, chairpersons, and councillors resigned. Currently, except for union councils, all other local government bodies are being administered. However, by court order, Shahadat Hossain is serving as mayor of Chattogram City Corporation.
Legally, elections for city corporations must be held within 180 days before the end of their term. Accordingly, the Dhaka South City Corporation term ended on June 1, 2024, the Dhaka North City Corporation term ended on June 2, 2025, and the Chattogram City Corporation term ends on February 22. Because of this, the EC considers elections in these three cities as highly urgent.
EC officials said that upon receiving formal directives from the government, preparations such as updating voter lists, delimitation, candidate verification, and appointment of election officials will begin. Due to time constraints, a separate urgent plan for Chattogram City may be implemented.
Meanwhile, according to the constitution, elections for reserved women’s seats must be held within 90 days of the publication of national election results in the gazette. Accordingly, the EC plans to start the process in March and complete voting by April, allowing swearing-in of elected women members before the first parliamentary session.
In terms of proportional allocation for the reserved women’s seats, this time BNP may get 36 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami 12 seats, and one each for the National Citizens Party and independents, according to EC sources.
EC Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud said, “Although the major election is over, preparations for other elections are ongoing as part of our constitutional duties. Local government elections will be held phase-wise after Eid.”
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed added, “Organizing elections is the core responsibility of the commission. Once government directives are received, formal processes to hold city corporation and local government elections will begin.”
