The Election Commission (EC) has decided to hold elections of 35 upazila parishads including the five newly formed ones on September 25.
The EC will hold the by-election for the chairman post and elections to the vacant vice-chairman post of 30 upazila parishads. It will also hold polls for the fresh five newly upazila parishads on the same day.
EC sources said they would be approving the draft proposals and finalise the schedules at the full commission meeting which is scheduled to be held on Monday.
They said that the poll schedule announcement has been planned for after the Eid-ul-Fitr because of the heavy workload to prepare for the next parliamentary elections.
According to the draft proposals, the EC has primarily fixed September 25 to hold polls for 35 upazila parishads. The last date of filing nominations is August 27 and they will be scrutinised on September 1-2. The last date of withdrawal is September 9. Besides, the EC has also taken plan to hold the rest of the upazila parishads elections on the same time.
The newly formed upazila parishads are Bijoynagar Upazila of Brahmanbaria, Rangabali of Patuakhali, Taltali of Barguna, Kalukhali of Rajbari and Tarakanda of Mymensingh districts.
The by-election will be held for the chairman posts of Kotchadpur upazila of Jhenaidah district, Sadar upazila of Laxmipur, Veramera of Kustia, Patia of Rajshahi, Fulpur of Mymensingh, Boraigram of Natore, Biyanibazar of Sylhet, Oshtogram of Brahmanbaria, Roumari of Kurigram, Naogaon Sadar Upazila, Amtali of Barguna, Srinagar of Munshiganj, Pirganj of Rangpur, Tarail of Kishoreganj, Koyra of Khulna, Trishal of Mymensingh, Nabiganj of Hobiganj, Companiganj of Sylhet and Ullahpara of Sirajganj.
Upazila parishads going to polls for the vice-chairman posts are Moulvibazar sadar upazila, Bancharampur of Brahmanbaria, Sonagaji of Feni, Borhanuddin of Bhola, Kotiyadi of Kishoreganj, Cox’s Bazaar sadar, Balaganj of Sylhet, Alphadanga of Faridpur, Rajibpur of Kurigram and Lalmohan upazila of Bhola.
Besides, the by-election for the woman vice-chairman post of Sapahar upazila of Naogaon will also be held.
Meanwhile, the last upazila parishads elections were held on January 22, 2009.
After the elections, some upazila parishad chairmen died and some resigned their posts. Since then the posts have fallen vacant till date.
According to the Section 16 of Upazila Parishad Act, the election must be held within 90 days after the posts fell vacant.