Published: 12:11 AM, 23 July 2026
Local govt elections likely early next year: Mirza Fakhul
Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said local government polls are likely to be held either by the end of this year or in early 2027.
Fakhrul was speaking at an event organised by the 'Bangladesh Union Parishad Chairman-Member Association' at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital.
Mirza Fakhrul said, "No political party - BNP or Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami - will receive any special privilege. Chairmen, members and women members will have to be elected through the people's support. This is the true foundation of democracy."
"In developed countries, local governments administer much of the public administration, healthcare, local justice system, and public services," he said, adding that Bangladesh must also build such a structure.
He said a country's democracy and state system become truly strong only when its local government system is effective and empowered, noting that empowering grassroots public representatives will help deliver services to people's doorsteps and further strengthen the foundation of democracy. The LGRD Minister said the country's democratic institutions had been weakened for a long time. Now, an opportunity has emerged to institutionalise democracy, and truly empower local governments.
He alleged that, in the past, elected public representatives had been removed on various pretexts. An elected representative should not be dismissed arbitrarily without proof, he said, adding that action should be taken only if a violation of the law or a criminal offence is proven. He also said the government is taking steps to reform the relevant laws.
Mirza Fakhrul further said he would discuss with the prime minister raising the allowances of union parishad chairmen and members to a respectable level. He also assured that the government would take positive steps to establish a trust and a welfare fund for elected local government officials.
He said the BNP government remains committed to further strengthening the local government system.
