The Election Commission has sought government's opinions to hold polls in five city corporations before the eleventh national parliamentary elections
An ‘emergency’ request letter signed by the EC Election Wing Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan was sent to the local government division.
The letter requested updates on the boundaries, ward redistricting, elections, court orders and other relevant matters for the Gazipur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations.
It also sought opinions from the government regarding the elections.
The five-year term for the Gazipur City Corporation is to end September 4, Sylhet’s ends September 8, Khulna September 25, Rajshahi October 5 and Barisal October 23.
According to the city corporation laws, polls must be held within 180 days of the end of a five-year term.
The EC is busy organising the general election this year, but, according to the law, it must also organise elections at the city corporations.
The previous election for four of the city corporation elections was held on June 15, 2013, while the Gazipur election was held on July 7 of that year.
Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda recently submitted his request for budget allocations for local government polls and the general election to the finance minister on February 19.
According to bdnews24.com, the EC had not decided whether the city corporation polls would be held simultaneously, he said at the time.
EC officials say the EC Secretariat has proposed the polls be held in two rounds before and after Eid-ul Fitr, with the Gazipur and Khulna polls before Eid and the Sylhet, Rajshahi and Barisal polls after.