The Election Commission (EC) has already started preparations to hold local government elections in a free, fair and neutral manner, said Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday.
Speaking in Parliament, the minister, who also oversees the EC Secretariat, said the commission is taking necessary steps to ensure a credible and participatory local government election within the stipulated timeframe.
“In order to arrange the next local government polls in a free, fair and impartial manner, the Election Commission has already started necessary preparations,” he said while replying to a scripted question from treasury bench member Sheikh Md Rejaul Islam (Naogaon-6).
Responding to another question from NCP lawmaker Abul Hasnat (Cumilla-4), Fakhrul said the EC has introduced an IT-supported postal ballot registration system for the first time to facilitate voting by Bangladeshis living abroad.
He said the initiative will continue in the next national election, and the commission is working to include as many expatriate Bangladeshis as possible under the postal voting system to safeguard their voting rights.
In reply to a query from opposition Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Abdul Karim (Gaibandha-2), the minister said there is currently no government plan to increase the salaries and allowances of union parishad chairmen and members.
