By DPA,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh Election Commission announced Friday that local government elections would take place Aug 4 despite a year-old state of emergency.
Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda said voting would be held Aug 4 in four big cities and nine towns.
Huda said the elections would be held using the newly made voter identity cards with photographs to avoid irregularities in polling.
The holding of the local polls ahead of the general election due at year’s end has been protested by the major political parties in the country.
The cities where mayoral polls will be held are Rajshahi, Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet while municipal elections are scheduled on the same day in nine towns.
A spokesman for the interim government said the existing emergency rule would be relaxed to permit electioneering by the candidates.