Possibility of 256 municipalities election in December.The Election Commission (EC) has planned to hold general elections in 256 municipalities next December. However, the mayors have written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) not to vote for fear that the outbreak of the corona virus may increase in the coming winter. The Ministry of Local Government has sent a list to the Election Commission saying that 284 out of 328 municipalities are suitable for holding elections. Of these, 256 municipalities will expire by next February.
In this regard, the senior secretary of the local government Helaluddin Ahmed told, “We have given detailed information about 328 municipalities to the Election Commission. The number of municipalities suitable for voting has also been announced in a specific format. The commission will now review which municipalities need to vote first and which later. The constitutional body will also decide whether to vote in Corona or not.
EC officials said that the municipal elections will be held from next October. Voting is scheduled for December. To this end, on September 09, the EC sent a letter to the Ministry of Local Government asking for the latest information about the municipality suitable for elections.
In a letter sent to Helaluddin Ahmed, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, in order to prepare for the municipal elections, the date of swearing in and expiration of term after the last election; a description of the municipality which is in the process of changing boundaries or dividing wards; information and latest status of municipalities which have been postponed due to boundary or ward layout or have not been held before; It is requested to inform the current status of the case along with the information of the municipality where the election has not been held or the election has been postponed due to litigation.
The number of municipalities that will expire by December next year is 284. Of these, voting will take place in 28 municipalities between April and December next year and in the remaining 256 municipalities in December next year. Now the EC will decide whether these will be voted on one day or in stages.
However, the date of polling for the municipal elections will be decided considering the Corona crisis situation and the opening of schools and the date of annual examinations. If the vote is in December, the schedule may be announced in November.
Doubts about voting in winter, demand for withdrawal: Various municipal mayors have written to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda not to vote. In it, they mention, the world today is trembling with fear of the coronavirus. Despite this risk, the people’s representatives have to maintain contact with the people.
In such a situation, if the election activities are carried out, no candidate will be able to leave the house and the voters will not be able to come to the polling station. Therefore, they requested not to hold elections during the disaster.
In this regard, the senior secretary of the EC Alamgir said preparations for the elections were being made as per the decision of the commission. No one has yet confirmed the second wave of Corona. Everything depends on what the situation going on.
News Room, October 08,2020