Local govt elections to end by June 6: State Minister

The government intends to stage local government elections in phases from January and to conclude the nationwide process by 6 June 2027, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam announced on Wednesday, pledging polls that are free, fair and credible.

Speaking to journalists at the Kurigram Circuit House, the state minister outlined the government's roadmap, stating that preparations for the phased elections were already well under way. Furthermore, he asserted that the administration would refuse to shoulder responsibility for any irregularities or controversies surrounding the ballots, emphasising its resolve to safeguard their integrity. Accordingly, he added, the authorities would endeavour to forestall any malpractice that might erode public confidence in the electoral process.

Turning to the escalating controversy over fertiliser distribution, Mir Shahe Alam alleged that the situation was the product of a political conspiracy designed to tarnish the government's reputation. Specifically, he claimed that fertiliser theft and artificial shortages were being engineered in constituencies represented by lawmakers from a particular political party. Nevertheless, he maintained that the government was taking proactive measures to avert shortages and confusion among farmers.

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In addition, the state minister vowed that any irregularities or systemic deficiencies in local fertiliser distribution would be thoroughly investigated. Consequently, farmers, whose livelihoods depend heavily on the timely availability of fertiliser, may expect closer scrutiny of supply networks in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the credibility of the government's twin pledges, namely transparent elections and equitable agricultural support, will be measured by how effectively these promises are translated into practice.