Dhaka – The chairman post election to 22 district councils (Zila Parishad) is set to go uncontested finding single chairman candidates after the deadline for withdrawal of candidature, which expired on Sunday.The 22 district councils are Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Jaypurhat, Naogaon, Natore, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Jessore, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Bhola, Netrakona, Kishoreganj, Gazipur, Tangail, Munshiganj, Dhaka, Narayanganj, Faridpur, Habiganj, Feni and Chittagong, said an official at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat.
The EC on November 20 declared election schedule for 61 district councils across the country except three Chittagong Hill Tract districts — Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.
The first-ever district council election is scheduled to be held on December 28 to a 21-member body for each council that would be comprised of a chairman, 15 general members and five women members from reserved seats.
Unlike other local government bodies, the district council election will be held indirectly by elected office bearers of two lower tiers of local government – Union Parishads and Municipal Committees. Elections are being held against 1,281 posts in 61 district councils out of 64. Bangladesh’s main opposition party, BNP, and Jatiya Party which shares power with the government at the centre are not contesting the District Council elections calling those ‘useless’.
