EC Secretary clarifies local polls timeline, troop deployment stance

The Election Commission (EC) clarified its stance on Thursday (October 1) regarding the scheduling of local government elections and potential troop deployment.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Election Building in Dhaka, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that while the commission has not finalized the dates for local government polls, it is actively taking cues from the government's suggested electoral timeframe between January and June.

Addressing queries about law enforcement, Ahmed noted that whether military forces will be deployed during the elections depends on future situational assessments.

The secretary also highlighted a joint initiative between the EC and UNESCO to combat electoral disinformation and rumors. Following preliminary discussions under UNESCO’s BALLOT project framework, specialized training programs will be conducted for election officials, police personnel, and media professionals to counter fake news during polls.

-SA