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administrators or government officials since the 2024 mass uprising.

Although the polls will officially be non-partisan after the suspension of voting with party symbols, major political parties have already begun selecting candidates they intend to support, formulating strategies and testing possible alliances.

After the interim government took office, except for union councils, elected representatives of 12 city corporations, all 330 municipalities, 61 zila parishad chairmen, 493 out of 495 upazila parishad chairmen and 988 upazila parishad vice-chairmen and women vice-chairmen were removed, while many went into hiding. A large number of union parishad representatives also disappeared from public view after the political transition.

The BNP-led government, following the policy adopted by the interim administration, appointed administrators to 11 city corporations and 56 district councils.

The prolonged absence of elected representatives has caused serious disruptions in local governance and public services, increasing pressure for elections.

According to EC data, of the 4,581 union councils, 3,632 will be eligible for elections by the end of August, while another 343 will become eligible by December.

EC officials said each of the five local government bodies has separate codes of conduct, and as part of its preparations, the EC is drafting a uniform code of conduct for elections to five types of local government bodies.

The EC’s Law and Rules Reform Committee held meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss code of conduct amendments. The process is expected to be completed within June.

Masud, who heads the committee, said key changes include raising the deposit requirement for candidates, ending online nomination submissions, scrapping the one percent support rule for independents, and barring the use of posters, EVMs and postal ballots.

He added that affidavits for local government candidates will not include separate undertakings; instead, a declaration will be attached to the form stating that candidates will abide by the code of conduct.

When asked whether EC would sit with the stakeholder before the local polls, Masud said, “There will be no dialogue with stakeholders before the elections. Any changes to laws and rules will be uploaded on the website. It will be open to all, and everyone will be able to give their opinions.”