For strengthening local body of the government, Bangladesh Union Parishad Oikyajote (BUPO) Sunday demanded of the Election Commission to hold elections for the Upazila Parishads, even if in phases, prior to the national elections as per the announced election roadmap, reports UNB.

Responding to the demand, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said the EC would hold all local-body elections, including election to the Upazila Parishads, announced as per its election roadmap.

"We''ve repeatedly been saying that we''ll certainly do the upazila election as per the roadmap… It has to be done… Now we''re considering the method-whether it will be held prior to the national elections or simultaneously with it," he told a 21-member BUPO delegation, including two women''s representatives.

The BUPO members, led by its coordinator Golam Sarwar Milon, met the CEC in the afternoon to place their 9-point demand with the Election Commission, following their recent divisional conferences.

Suggesting the EC not to hold the upazila election along with the general election for the first time, the delegation said the elections could be held in phases since 60 percent of the voter list have already been completed.

They also drew the CEC''s attention to the fact that the campaign for national polls would influence the upazila elections if both the elections were held simultaneously. "All the elected political governments of the past always had given commitment of holding upazila election but didn''t keep the promise… We''re apprehending that it''ll happen this time also regardless of whoever gets elected," BUPO coordinator Milon told the CEC, underscoring the importance of holding the upazila parishad elections.

CEC Huda said the EC''s first target, regarding holding the local elections, is to hold four (Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet) city corporation and seven municipal elections, which was first targeted in April and now in May.

"A new law is being formulated regarding the local- body elections which is being delayed a little bit… It seems the proposed law will be placed before the Council of Advisers… We'' ll declare the schedule of the four city corporation and seven municipality elections just after the gazette notification of the law," he said.

The delegation also suggested the EC to reconsider the proposed provisions of the relevant laws that the office bearers of political parties and persons holding an elected post could not contest any elections holding the posts.

They suggested allowing the candidates holding the posts by making provision that the candidates, if get elected, would have to resign from the earlier posts.

"The provision regarding the office bearers of political parties has already been reconsidered and now it has been proposed that they will have to quit party post before taking oath for the elected posts," CEC Huda told the delegation. He said the provision regarding persons holding an elected post would also be reconsidered.

The area of work for the local body and its representatives are huge, the CEC said. Unfortunately, he said, it has been kept inactive through several processes and the incumbent government has taken measures to strengthen it.

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