The elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal and the newly formed Gazipur City Corporations are likely to be held on June 6. The ec has already prepared the draft schedule of the polls. After finalising the poll schedule at the next commission meeting, the ec will announce the poll schedule on April 25, an ec official told Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday. According to the schedule, the last date of filing nomination papers is May 5 and nominations papers will be scrutinised from May 8 to May 9. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 16. The EC will provide symbols among candidates on May 17. “There will be no changes in the poll schedule, if the ec does not face any major problem,’ said the official. The ec has prepared ward-wise voter lists plus voter CD of the five city corporations, he said. According to the working plan, the ec will send nomination forms, election manuals and different instructions to the field level officials on April 21. After that, the ec will send letters to the concerned ministries seeking information of loan defaulters on April 28, appoint executive and judicial magistrates on April 29 and form a team on April 30 to oversee the electoral laws during the polls. According to the plans, the ec will hold meeting with high officials of different law enforcing agencies on May 19. Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said the ec has decided to announce the poll schedule this month and hold the polls by the third week of June. According to the ec, the last elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporations were held on August 4, 2008. As per the city corporation laws, five years tenure of a city corporation starts from the first meeting and election must be held within 180 days before the expiration of the tenure. The EC will have to hold Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporation polls in between March and October as per the law. The newly formed Gazipur City Corporation election must be held within July 15. The government formed Gazipur City Corporation which is the 11th city corporation in the country on January 7 this year.
Monday, April 21, 2025
