Dhaka:
The Election Commission (EC) plans to hold the upazila parishad elections across the country in March. EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told reporters at the Election Bhaban on Wednesday (January 2).
He said, "We don't have time. The SSC exam will be held in February and the HSC exam in April. There is time only in March. So the commission wants to choose this time."
EC officials said that if the elections are to be held in March, the schedule will have to be announced in January or early February.
Two weeks after the 10th National Parliament election on January 5, 2014, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed's commission announced the schedule for the upazila elections on January 19. Voting for the elections took place in six phases from February 19 to May.
At that time, elections were held in more than 487 upazilas in six phases. However, while last time there were independent votes, this time the upazila elections will be held under party symbols.
Officials from the Election Commission's election management branch said that the plan is to complete the elections for the upazila parishads whose terms end in July by March 31. The elections for the upazila parishads whose terms end after July will be announced at a later convenient time.
According to the Upazila Parishad Election Act, there is a requirement to hold elections within six months of the expiration of the term.
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