The Election Commission on Monday announced the dates for the Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) polls and by-polls to Comilla City Corporation (COCC).
The voting will take place from 8am to 4pm on March 9 through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Election Commissioner (EC) Anisur Rahman said during a briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon.
Apart from the city corporations, voting will take place in several municipalities, Upazila Parishad and Zilla Parishad on the same day.
In response to a question, EC Anisur Rahman said the elections in the municipalities, Zilla Parishads, and city corporations will be held through EVMs. The rest of the elections will be held through ballot papers. Further details will be announced when the official schedule is released, he added.
On June 15, 2022, the Awami League’s Arfanul Haque Rifat was elected mayor of the COCC, defeating two-time mayor Monirul Haque Sakku. The post became vacant after Rifat, also the Comilla Metropolitan unit general secretary, died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 13, last year.
On the other hand, Awami League candidate Ekramul Haque Titu won uncontested in the maiden MCC election on May 5, 2019.
The government upgraded Mymensingh municipality to the country’s 12th city corporation in April 2018. The area of the city corporation is about 91.315sq-km.
On the other hand, the decision on voting in at least 100 upazila parishads may come this week.
EC Anisur Rahman said: “We are still analyzing the Upazila Parishad elections. The SSC exams will start on February 15 and will end on March 12 while Ramadan will commence on March 10 or 11. All these issues must be considered.”
He said: “The first phase of the upazila parishad must be held by April 30. The rest will be held in phases in May because there is also the Higher Secondary Certificate exam in June. We want to utilize this period. We are currently verifying the list of upazilas that we have received.”
Mentioning that there is a thin chance of holding Upazila Parishad elections before Eid, he said: "However, we will hold some elections by April 30."
Regarding elections to the reserved seats of Parliament, he said: "The election issue for the reserved seats is being scrutinized. It will be held soon as well. As there is a legal obligation, it has to be done within a month of the parliamentary elections.”
