The government plans to start a phased rollout of local government elections across Bangladesh after the monsoon season, beginning in September or October this year.

LGRD State Minister Mir Shahe Alam made the announcement while speaking to journalists in Bogura today.

He said elections to five tiers of local government bodies will be completed within the next year.

According to him, the sequence of polls will depend on budget availability, with union parishad elections expected to be held first, followed by other local bodies requiring larger allocations.

The state minister also said elections to 13 city corporations, including the newly formed Bogura City Corporation, will be completed within the same timeframe.

Shahe Alam said financial planning is underway, noting that conducting local government elections requires significant funding. He said the required allocation will be included in the upcoming national budget.

A letter has already been sent to the Election Commission seeking detailed estimates of the costs involved in holding the polls, he added.

He estimated that union parishad elections alone could cost around Tk 500–600 crore.

The Local Government Division, the Election Commission and the Ministry of Finance will hold further discussions after the budget is approved and the new fiscal year begins to finalise the election schedule, he said.