Union parishad polls may begin in April: CEC 

The Election Commission is mulling a proposal to hold the union parishad elections in April this year, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Thursday.

"There is a proposal to hold elections for the remaining municipalities and some union parishads on 7 April. However, the decision regarding the number municipalities and union parishads where the elections can be held in April will be finalised in a commission meeting on 17 February," he said while addressing the inaugural function of the new committee of Reporters Forum for Elections and Democracy (RFED).

Speaking as the chief guest, KM Nurul Huda added that the union parishad elections could also begin on a large scale across the country in mid-May this year.

"There will be no elections in March and in the month of Ramadan. Besides, we will have to prepare voter lists and finalise it, and then copy those on compact discs (CD) to send those to the union parishad candidates," KM Nurul Huda mentioned.

The fourth round of municipality elections will be held on 14 February and the fifth phase will commence on 28 February. The chief election commissioner expressed optimism that the forthcoming elections would be fair and free of any conflict.