The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday began an inter-ministerial meeting with government ministries and agencies to discuss the schedule and preparations for the upcoming local government elections.

The meeting began at around 2:40pm at the Election Commission Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon, with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the chair.

The four other election commissioners, EC Senior Secretary Akhter Ahmed and senior officials of the commission are attending the meeting.

Representatives of the Cabinet Division, Bangladesh Bank, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Inspector General of Police, Armed Forces Division, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives are also participating.

The meeting is part of the EC’s preparations for holding the local government elections.

According to the commission’s current plan, Union Parishad elections are expected to be held from mid-November.

Meanwhile, the by-election to the Thakurgaon-1 constituency is scheduled for 29 October.

The EC is consulting the relevant ministries and agencies to assess administrative, security, transport, education and other logistical issues ahead of the polls.