Final decision on local government election to be made after stakeholder discussions

Debate Arises Over Timing of Local Government Elections

A fresh debate has emerged in the political sphere regarding whether local government elections should be held before the upcoming national parliamentary elections.

With the absence of elected representatives in local government institutions, ordinary citizens are facing difficulties in accessing essential services. Given this situation, the interim government is considering the possibility of holding local elections.

However, local government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain told Prothom Alo that a final decision would only be made after discussions with relevant stakeholders.

A recent public opinion survey by the Election Reform Commission found that 65% of people favor holding local government elections first. The commission itself has recommended prioritizing local elections before the national election. However, there is division within the political landscape on this issue.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee support holding local elections first. Conversely, the BNP and several other political parties believe the national election should take precedence.

During a discussion with political parties on Saturday, some groups raised concerns about the election sequence. Following the meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists that his party firmly believes the national election should come first.

The Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) shares this stance. Party Chairman Andalib Rahman Partha warned that holding local elections first could lead to violence in over 4,500 union councils, as local elections have historically been associated with unrest.

The debate resurfaced on Monday when local government adviser Asif Mahmud addressed the topic at a press conference. On Thursday, Jamaat-e-Islami met with the Election Commission (EC), urging them to hold local elections first.

In response, BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir dismissed the push for local elections as a political maneuver to further destabilize the country. Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has been actively campaigning on social media in favor of local elections before the national polls.

Local government, rural development, and cooperatives adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain reiterated to Prothom Alo that the interim government is inclined to hold local elections but will make a final decision after consultations with political parties.

Currently, elected representatives are absent from key local institutions such as city corporations, municipalities, district councils, and upazila councils. This has led to increased public suffering, as government officials have had to take on additional responsibilities, reducing efficiency. Additionally, bureaucrats often lack the necessary local knowledge and experience to effectively serve as elected representatives.

Asif Mahmud has emphasized that local government elections should be held as soon as the Election Commission is ready.

Earlier, on 8 January, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus informed European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Nikola Beer that the interim government is preparing for both national and local elections. However, sources indicate that no formal process has been initiated for either election yet.

Typically, the Election Commission begins preparations for local government elections upon receiving a formal request from the local government ministry. As of now, no such request has been submitted.

The Election Commission is currently planning for the national parliamentary election in December. However, officials have stated that they are open to organizing local elections first if the government decides to proceed in that order.

Past experience suggests that conducting local government elections nationwide in multiple phases would take approximately a year.

Sources indicate that discussions about holding local elections first were raised in meetings between the Election Reform Commission and the Local Government Reform Commission outside Dhaka in December-January. This idea was later brought to the attention of the chief adviser.

There are two key reasons why local elections are being considered before the national elections:

1. Absence of Local Representatives: Following the 5 August uprising against the authoritarian government of Sheikh Hasina, many local government representatives went into hiding, and most were later dismissed by the interim government. As a result, essential public services have been severely affected.

2. Electoral Testing Ground: Holding local elections first would provide an opportunity to test the new Election Commission's capabilities and assess the effectiveness of any electoral reforms before the national election takes place.

With opinions sharply divided, the final decision on the sequence of elections remains uncertain and will depend on further discussions among stakeholders.