All local government elections to be held this fiscal year: State Minister

All local government elections in the country will be held within the current fiscal year, said Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. He said, Tk 6,000 crore has been allocated in the budget for these elections.

The state minister made the remarks while briefing journalists after a meeting with Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller at the Secretariat on Tuesday, August 25. The meeting was also attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan.

Regarding the local government elections, the state minister said a meeting would be held with the Election Commission next week, subject to the Prime Minister's approval, to discuss the polls. The Election Commission will determine the election schedule and dates, he added, and the ministry will brief the media after discussions with the commission.

The main topic of discussion at the meeting was Danish assistance for water supply, the state minister said. Denmark will cooperate in managing water supply in the capital, including supporting the completion of the third phase of the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant Project . For this phase, which costs Tk 16,000 crore to build, Denmark will provide Tk 4,500 crore in assistance, including Tk 1,500 crore as a grant and Tk 3,000 crore as a loan to be repaid in phases over the next 20 years, which would not put pressure on the government.

Once the project is implemented, it will be possible to treat 95 crore litres of water from the Meghna River daily. Additionally, Denmark will provide Tk 100 crore in assistance for Rohingya support.