Dhaka – Elections to 234 municipalities across the country will be held on December 30 on party basis as per a new law passed by the government.
The Chief Election Commissioner announced the election schedule for the 234 municipalities out of the country’s 323 ones at a press briefing at the Media Centre of the EC Secretariat.
As per the schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is December 3 while the dates for the scrutiny is December 5 and 6, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is December 13, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad on Tuesday.The municipal elections will be held on party line for the first time as Parliament passed the Local Government (Municipality) (Amendment) Bill 2015 last week on November 19, paving the way for mayoral candidates to contest the elections with party symbols.
The polls of councillors of the municipalities will be held on a non-party bais under the said law.
Additional Deputy Commissioners (General) of the districts have been appointed returning officers of the municipal elections. 60 district election officers and 133 upazila election officers will assistant the returning officers, the CEC said.
Some 71,62,396 voters, including 35,86,356 men and 35,76,040 women, will be able to exercise their franchise in the elections in 234 municipalities.
A total of 234 mayors, 2952 councillors, 738 women councillors in reserved seats will be elected through the municipal elections.
The CEC said no political party registered with the Election Commission (EC) can give its nomination to more than one aspirant in a single municipality.
President or General Secretary or persons holding equivalent posts of a political party or persons authorised by the aforementioned persons can nominate party’s mayoral candidates, he said.
City corporation mayors and MPs will also not be allowed to participate in electioneering for any candidate, he added.
As per the election code of conduct, the VVIPs enjoying government privileges cannot take part in the election campaign, Rakibuddin said.
The VVIPs include the Prime Minister, the Speaker, Ministers, the Chief Whip, the Deputy Speaker, the Opposition Leader and the Deputy Leader of the House and the Opposition Deputy Leader, State Ministers, Whips, Deputy Minister, those holding posts equivalent to VVIPs, MPs and city corporation mayors, he said.
Independent mayoral aspirants, except those who were elected as mayor of the municipality in the past, need to collect the signatures of 100 voters of their respective municipalities to contest the polls as per the electoral rule, the CEC said.
As per the electoral rules, a political party can spend maximum Tk one lakh as election expenditure in each municipality, he said.
The CEC gave the probable candidates 48 hours to remove their posters and banners from their respective areas.
The 234 municipalities facing election are: Rangpur Division: Panchagar, Pirganj (Thakurgaon) Ranishangkail, Thakurgaon, Phulbari, Dinajpur, Bigranj, Birampur, Hakimpur, Syedpur, Jhaldhaka, Lalmonirhat, Patgram, Badarganj, Kurigram, Nageshwari, Ulipur, Gobindaganj, Gaibandha and Sundarganj.
Rajshahi Division: Akkelpur, Kalai, Joypurhat, Sherpur, Sariakandi, Gabtoli, Santahar, Kahalu, Dhunat, Nandigram, Shibganj, Bogra, Rahanpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Shibganj, Nachole, Naogaon, Nazipur, Kankonhat, Aarani, Mundumala, Kishorehat, Godagari, Taherpur, Bhabaniganj, Tanore, Katakhali, Charghat, Durgapur, Puthia, Naldangha, Gopalpur, Gurudashpur, Singra, Baraigram, Natore, Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, Raiganj, Belkuchi, Kazipur, Chatmohar, Santhia, Sujanagar, Faridpur, Bhangura, Pabna and Ishwardi.
Khulna Division: Gangni, Mirpur, Kushtia Sadar, Bheramara, Kumarkhali, Khuksha, Darshana, Jibonnagar, Alamdanga, Chuadanga, Kotchandpur, Maheshpur, Harinakunda, Shailkupa, Nawapara, Manirampur, Bagherpara, Chaugachha, Keshabpur, Jessore, Magura, Kalia, Narail, Morrelganj, Mongla Port, Bagerhat, Chalna, Paikgachha, Kolaroa and Satkhira.
Barisal Division: Betagi, Patharghata, Borguna, Kalapara, Kuakata, Burhanuddin, Daulatkhan, Bhola, Muladi, Gaurnadi, Mehendiganj, Banaripara, Bakerganj, Ujirpur, Nalchity, Pirojpur and Swarupkathi.
Dhaka Division: Dhanbari, Madhupur, Tangail, Mirzapur, Bhuapur, Shakhipur, Gopalpur, Kalihati, Sarishabari, Melandaha, Jamalpur, Islampur, Madarganj, Dewanganj, Nakla, Nalitabari, Sherpur, Sreebardi, Muktagachha, Gauripur, Ishwarganj, Trishal, Bhaluka, Gafargaon, Nandail, Phulpur, Phulbaria, Madan, Mohanganj, Netrakona, Durgapur, Kendua, Kuliarchar, Kishoreganj, Hossainpur, Katiadi, Bajidpur, Bhairab, Karimganj, Singair, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Mirkadim, Dhamrai, Savar, Madhabdi, Monohardi, Tarabo, Sonargaon, Pangsha, Rajbari, Goalando, Boalmari, Nagarkanda, Gopalganj, Tungipara, Kalkini, Shibchar, Madaripur, Naria, Damudya, Zajira, Vedarganj and Shariatpur.
Sylhet Division: Chatak, Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, Dirai, Jakiganj, Kanaighat, Golapganj, Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, Kulaura, Barlekha, Nabiganj, Habiganj, Chunarughat, Madhabpur and Shaistaganj.
Chittagong Division: Akhaura, Chandina, Laksam, Daudkandi, Barura, Chauddagram, Homna, Hajiganj, Chengarchar, Faridganj, Kachua, Matlab, Dagonbhuiyan, Feni, Parshuram, Basurhat, Chowmuhani, Hatia, Chatkhil, Ramganj, Ramgati, Raipur, Sandip, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Satkania, Mirsarai, Patiya, Raujan, Barairhat, Rangunia, Sitakunda, Khagrachhari, Matiranga, Rangamati, Lama and Bandarban.
The Commission has the legal obligation to hold election to a municipality within 90 days before the expiry of its five-year tenure. It arranged elections to 265 municipalities in four phases in January 2011. – News Desk
