Local government elections expected to begin by year-end: PM’s Adviser

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman today (5 May) said that local government elections are expected to begin toward the end of this year.

Speaking at a press conference regarding the government’s progress at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in the Secretariat, he noted that the entire electoral process could take around 10 months to a year to complete.

Responding to a question on whether the government plans to dissolve upazila parishads, Zahed Ur Rahman said no such decision has been taken.

He said, “The issue of providing offices to MPs does not undermine the upazila system. Under Section 25 of the Upazila Parishad Act, a member of parliament is legally an adviser to the upazila parishad,” adding that there is room for debate over whether MPs should continue in such advisory roles.

“However, it is not accurate to suggest that allocating an office has significantly worsened the situation. One could also argue that since an MP serves as an adviser, having an office at the upazila parishad is justified, “he added.

He clarified that while there is ongoing public debate over whether MPs should hold advisory roles, the government has no intention of dissolving or weakening the upazila parishad system.