The Election Commission has announced the schedule for 233 elections for various posts in local governments, including in Mymensingh City Corporation and the by-election to the post of mayor in Comilla City Corporation.
EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam disclosed the schedule at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon on Wednesday.
Per the schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers with the returning officers concerned is February 13, finalizing nominations is February 15, appeals will be open on February 19 and 20, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 22, symbol allotment is scheduled for February 23, and voting will be conducted on March 9.
The EC secretary mentioned that voting in the elections for city corporations, municipalities, and district councils, as well as by-elections for various vacant posts, will be done through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Union parishad elections and by-elections for various vacant posts will be held with ballot papers.
Jahangir Alam said regional election officers would act as returning officers for the Mymensingh and Comilla City Corporation elections.
The first election in Mymensingh was conducted on May 5, 2019, after the gazette's publication as the 12th city corporation in the country. According to the rules, voting in this city corporation has to be held within June 19.
On June 15, 2022, Arfanul Haque Rifat, the general secretary of the metropolitan Awami League, was elected mayor in the Comilla City Corporation election.
He passed away on December 13, prompting the Election Commission to organize a by-election for the post of mayor.
In a letter from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives on Tuesday, it was stated that the demarcation of the boundaries of Comilla city is in progress. After completing this process, measures were ordered to organize a by-election for the vacant post of mayor.
Responding to inquiries about potential complications regarding the by-election for the mayor's post in Comilla, the EC secretary mentioned that the law could determine whether there are any complications. The commission has received a letter from the local government ministry, and it will be discussed in the commission. Any decision by the commission, if necessary, will be communicated later, he added.
Addressing the issue of upazila voting without symbols, the EC secretary said: “It is a matter for the decision of political parties. Everyone actively participates in local government elections, and I believe it would be more participatory without symbols.”
Elections to be held
The elections on March 9 will cover various positions, including the election in Mymensingh City Corporation, by-election for the mayor's post in Comilla City Corporation, general ward 11 councillor position (Dhaka South City Corporation), Barisal City Corporation wards 8 and 22, three municipalities (Patuakhali, Bakshiganj, and Amtali), five mayors in by-elections (Trishal, Munshiganj, Shibganj, Katakhali, and Taherpur), by-elections for general councillor positions in 10 municipalities, elections in 13 union parishads, by-elections for chairman positions in 21 union parishads, by-elections for general member positions in 146 union councils, by-elections for reserved member positions in 23 unions, and six district council chairman positions.
In total, 233 elections will be held on the day.