Elections to 61 zila parishads Oct 17
Gaibandha-5 by polls on October 12
Elections to 61 zila parishads will take place on October 17 using electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The Election Commission Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath announced the election schedule today, about four months after the government appointed administrators to the zila parishad (district council).
The government appointed administrators on April 27, as it dissolved the zila parishads of districts after their five-year tenure expired earlier that month.
Ashok Debnath said the last date for submitting nomination papers for 61 zila parishads, excluding the three Chattogram hill tracts districts, is September 15.
The last date of withdrawal of candidature will be September 22.
The deputy commissioners of districts will serve as returning officers in the elections.
Over a century-old local government body, district councils, were revived via the first-ever zila parishad polls that took place in December 28, 2016.
Amid boycott by the BNP and the Jatiya Party, the ruling Awami League-backed candidates became chairmen in 25 districts, AL leaders running as independents won in 13, and AL leaders won unopposed in 21.
Polls were held in two other districts later.
As per the Zila Parishad Act, 2000, amended in 2022, the administrator will be in office until a new administration is formed. However, the term of an administrator will not be more than 180 days and an individual cannot be an administrator more than once.
According to the law, only the elected representatives of different local government bodies like city corporations, upazila parishads, union parishads, and municipalities will vote to elect a chairman and general members and women members in reserved seats in each district council.
Meanwhile the by-election to Gaibandha-5 constituency that fell vacant following the death of ruling Awami League lawmaker and deputy speaker of parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 23, will be held on October 12, the EC announced.
The last date for filing and withdrawal of nominations are September 13 and September 22.