The Election Commission (EC) plans to hold the first phase of the upcoming local government elections in 1,050 union parishads (UPs), Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed said.
He disclosed the matter while speaking to reporters at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday.
Akhtar Ahmed said the commission is prioritising union parishads whose terms have expired and is preparing to hold elections in slightly more than 1,050 unions.
He also said the commission is considering collecting information for National Identity (NID) registration from children as young as six.
"We are discussing creating a database using the information provided when children enter primary school," he said.
The EC secretary said electronic voting machines (EVMs) would not be used in the upcoming elections.
The commission has begun a final stocktaking of the machines ahead of their disposal, he said, adding that the disposal method would be determined after receiving recommendations on the matter.
