The Election Commission (EC) is planning to hold the Upazila Council elections in March and like last time they are preparing to administer it in multiple phases.

Given the SSC and HSC exams are taking place in February and April and the holy Ramadan is nearing, the commission is preparing to carry out the polls in 500 Upazila’s across the country in five to six phases.

The schedule will be announced at the end of January or beginning of February if the polls do indeed take place in March.  Commission sources said that not only are these polls taking place in party lines for the first time, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in more than one upazila.

“We will use EVMs in as many upazila council elections as possible,” said EC Secretary Ahmed.

According to the law, the elections must be held in the six months before the Upazila councils end their terms. EC officials said that they started preparing for it right after the general elections.

The local government ministry has been issued with a letter, asking for each upazila’s name, last polls date, oath taking date of the upazila chairman and vice chairman and date of the first meeting. Moreover, 10 regional and district election officers have been asked to provide the same information.

Meanwhile EC Secretary Ahmed said that there have been no discussions at the commission regarding the polls.

Moreover, the SSC and HSC exams are scheduled to take place in February and April.

“Two very important public exams are coming up and the month of Ramadan is also nearing. Talks are underway to fix a suitable date,” he said.

Ahmed added that taking everything into account March and May are being considered for the polls. 

Similar to the government, the upazila council’s first meeting marks the first day of its five year term.

The Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed-led Commission administered the last Upazila elections in six phases between February and May in 2014 after the 10th national election on Jan 5 that year.

The upazilas where the elections took place during the first phase are prepared for another vote, said commission sources.

The voter list had been finalized before the national polls, and a new list will be drawn up after adding new voters to the list.

Moreover, the EC has also stocked up on ballot papers, stamp pad, official seals, indelible ink and supplies needed for vote casting.

During the 2014 elections, the commission administered the first phase in February 19 in 97 upazilas. Following that, within March 31, the elections took place in five phases in 859 upazilas. Because some of the councils had still not completed their terms, the final phase of election was carried out after Ramadan. The commission is planning to hold the 2019 elections similarly.

For the first time the upazila polls will be held in party lines. Previously, the political parties had provided unofficial support to the candidates, but this time the aspirants will be contesting with the party’s logo.

The first Upazila council elections were held in 1985 in 460 upazilas while the last one was held in 2014 in 487 upazilas.