Terming the Union Parishad as the most important local government institution, President Abdul Hamid has asked the Election Commission (EC) to take all necessary steps so that suitable candidates can contest in the local body polls for ensuring fair practice of democracy at the grassroots level.
The President said this when a delegation of EC led by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad made a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban here on Wednesday, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.
Election commissioners Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Brigadier General (retd) Md Zabed Ali were the other members of the delegation.
Mentioning the EC a constitutional body, President Hamid advised the commission to work for earning confidence of the people as well as maintaining its credibility.
During the meeting, the delegation informed the President that the commission is planning to hold elections to 4,200 union parishads in between March and June this year in six phases.
The delegation said the commission has amended Union Parishad (Election Conducting) Rules 2016 and Union Parishad Election Code of Conduct-2016.
Following the recent amendment to the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009 that made the local body election partially partisan, the commission has changed the election rules and the code of conduct.
The delegation apprised the President of overall activities of the EC and sought his (President’s) cooperation in discharging their duties.
They also said the commission would take all necessary steps to hold the polls in a free and fair manner.
Secretaries concerned to the President were present.
