Union Parishad polls likely in January: EC Anwarul 

The Election Commission (EC) has ruled out its initial plan to hold Union Parishad elections in November and December, citing annual examinations at educational institutions across the country.

The commission is now considering starting the elections in January, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told reporters at the Election Commission building in Agargaon today (24 September).

Anwarul, however, said no specific date has been set yet. If voting begins in January, the election schedule is expected to be announced 40 to 45 days earlier, meaning the commission may announce the timetable in November.

The EC had earlier considered holding the UP elections in seven phases, with the first phase scheduled for 12 November.

But the commission subsequently reviewed the plan following concerns over annual and public examinations at an inter-ministerial meeting on 16 September.

The EC has said it is considering Ramadan, Eid, Puja and the SSC and HSC examinations while finalising the election timeline. Ramadan is expected to begin in early February, while the HSC examinations are scheduled to begin on 6 June, leaving the commission with a tight window to complete the polls.

Anwarul rejected rumours that the initial timeline was changed due to government pressure, saying the decision was based on practical considerations, including students’ examinations and the deployment of law enforcement agencies during exam periods.

Schools and colleges are also commonly used as polling centres, while teachers serve as election officials, he said.

The EC had previously said the UP elections would be completed by 6 June next year.

According to EC estimates, elections will be held in around 4,272 of the country’s 4,580 Union Parishads. Under the law, elections must be held within 180 days before the expiry of a Union Parishad’s term.

The commission is therefore preparing to hold the elections in phases, considering the expiry dates of individual UPs.

Anwarul said the dates currently being discussed were only a tentative timeline and that specific dates would be announced once the election schedule was finalised.