UP elections likely in January: EC

The Election Commission (EC) is moving away from its initial plan to start Union Parishad elections on 12 November this year. The commission is now considering holding the elections from January next year, citing school and college examinations and other practical issues.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told reporters at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday.

Masud said school and college examinations will be held in November and December. Many educational institutions are also used as polling centres. Teachers are often assigned election duties.

Considering these issues, it may not be possible to hold the Union Parishad elections as planned in November and December, he said.

The commissioner said the EC is therefore considering moving the elections to January next year. However, the commission has not yet made a final decision on the election schedule.

The EC has also cancelled a planned dialogue with political parties and other stakeholders. The talks were scheduled for 23, 24 and 25 September.