Voters are casting their ballots in maiden Zila Parishad elections which will likely be dominated by ruling Awami League affiliated candidates amid polls boycott by the BNP and Jatiya Party.
Voting started at 9am on Wednesday in 61 districts and will end at 2pm. More than 63,000 voters will elect a chairman, 15 general members and five reserved seat members in each district.
Only elected representatives of local government bodies – upazila parishads, union parishads, municipalities and city corporations – are voting this year.
Twenty-two Awami League affiliated chairmen candidates have been elected uncontested.
The BNP boycotted the polls claiming that it went against the constitution because of lack of direct participation of voters.
Reports of polls code violation, coercing and bribing voters came in from many districts but the Election Commission maintained that the polls would be free and fair.
The EC said various measures had been taken to ensure peaceful voting.
On Monday, the EC requested the Parliament Speaker to ask MPs leave their constituencies ahead of the polls.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
