EC mulls renaming local govt bodies, posts in Bangla
The Election Commission is considering Bangla names for local government bodies and the positions within them by amending the relevant existing law.
It is planning to introduce Bangla names for the terms city corporation, municipality and union parishad and the posts mayor, chairman etc by amending the election-related laws of local government bodies.
A draft version of the law to hold city corporation, municipalities and union parishad election were discussed at an Election Commission meeting yesterday, said EC senior secretary Md Alamgir after the meeting held at the EC office in Dhaka.
He said that they would hold further discussion on the issue later this month to finalise the decision. "We will also take opinions from stakeholders before finalising it," he added.
Alamgir said that they have taken the move as Bangla is an enriched language.
EC proposed renaming of city corporation to mahanagar sobha, pouroshabha to nagarshabha, union parishad to palli parishad and ward into mahalla.
It also proposed renaming of corporation to sobha, city corporation mayor to mahanagar sobha adhikarik or mahanagarpati, councillor to sadasya or paarishad.
EC is considering renaming of pouroshabha mayor to puradhyakkho or nagarpati, union parishad chairman to palli parishad pradhan, upazila parishad chairman to upazila parishad pradhan, upazila vice chairman to upazila parishad upa-pradhan and others.
EC officials said that they have decided to amend the election-related laws of local government bodies in Bangla to make it easy to read and understandable to all.
At the meeting, election commissioners discussed due by-polls. Alamgir said the commission will likely to announce by-elections to Dhaka-18 and Pabna-4 constituencies on August 22 or 23.
Dhaka-18 and Pabna-4 seats of parliament fell vacant in recent times after the demise of lawmakers Sahara Khatun and Shamsur Rahman Sherif.
Regarding Chattogram City Corporation election, Alamgir said the EC would hold the polls before the end of CCC administrator's tenure.
EC on march 21 postponed the CCC election scheduled for March 29 for an indefinite period due to the coronavirus outbreak. The government on August 4 appointed Khorshed Alam Sujon as the administrator of CCC with a tenure of 180 days.
The government has appointed an administrator as AJM Nasir Uddin's five-year term as CCC mayor ended.
Since the detection of the first coronavirus case on March 8, the EC has so far held several elections. On March 21, it held by-polls to Dhaka-10, Gaibandha-3, and Bagerhat-4. By-polls to Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 constituencies were held on July 14.
The EC will need to hold by-election to Sirajganj-1, Dhaka-5 and Naogoan-6 seats, which fell vacant recently after the demise of lawmakers Mohammad Nasim, Habibur Rahman Mollah and Israfil Alam respectively.