Ensuring credible local elections remains a top challenge: State Minister

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam on Thursday (July 9) said ensuring free, fair and credible local government elections will be one of the government's biggest challenges this year, calling for cooperation from all stakeholders to make the polls acceptable to the public.

Speaking at the BSRF Dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum at the Secretariat Media Centre, the state minister said the government has already allocated the necessary funds in the current fiscal year's budget to hold elections for all five tiers of local government institutions.

He added that the Election Commission of Bangladesh has also begun preparations for the upcoming polls.

"The government is facing two major challenges this year—implementing the national budget and conducting local government elections in a free, fair and credible manner," he said.

Acknowledging the complexities surrounding local elections, Mir Shahe Alam said restoring public confidence in the electoral process remains a key priority.

"There are various challenges in making local government elections acceptable to the people. However, the government will extend all necessary support to ensure the polls are conducted fairly and peacefully," he added.

Responding to a question about his political relationship with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the state minister said he considers himself "an ordinary BNP worker," not a personal friend of the prime minister.

He noted that his association with Tarique Rahman dates back to his student political career in the student wing of the party and their involvement in politics in Bogura, describing the relationship as one of political colleagues rather than personal friendship.