Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman spoke at a weekly press briefing at Press Information Department (PID). Photo: PID

DHAKA, June 23, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today said LGRD and cooperatives ministry has set a target to hold all local government polls within maximum one year.

Local government elections across the country may begin in phases immediately after the current monsoon season, with the first phase of UP polls from September or October this year, he said. 
 
He made the remarks at a weekly press briefing at Press Information Department (PID), where updates on the activities and progress of various ministries were presented.

“The government also plans to subsequently complete elections for municipalities, upazilas, district councils, and city corporations,” said Zahed, also PM’s Adviser for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

About participation in local polls, he said even if someone was previously affiliated with a particular political party but they have no involvement in any crimes or the July–August killings and have no cases filed against them, they may participate in local government elections as an individual and independent candidate.

However, no party banner, symbol, or slogan may be used, he said, adding anyone found guilty of crimes must face justice.

Presenting progress of the government, he said as part of a policy decision to bring all 64 districts under the railway network, the government has decided to establish new railway lines in 10 districts: Sherpur, Meherpur, Magura, Satkhira, Barishal, Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, and Lakshmipur. 

He also mentioned that GPS installation in all public transport vehicles will become mandatory from August 1.

As of June 21, government warehouses held a record 21 lakh 21 thousand 598 metric tons of food grains, a surplus of nearly 700,000 tons against the annual demand. 

Meanwhile, up to May, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) collected a  record Tk 360,642 crore in revenue — the highest in the country’s history—representing 10 percent growth.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had completed his first official foreign visit to Malaysia and now he is in China. Bangladesh and Malaysia have agreed to form a joint working group to develop a new labor cooperation framework, he added.

Zahed said feasibility study for the high-capacity “Dhaka 400 kV Transmission Ring Network” has been completed to help meet the country’s growing electricity demand. 

He said the policy framework for establishing an independent National Media Commission has been finalized while BTCL has launched 977 Wi-Fi hotspots across the country.

Issuing a strong warning against cyberbullying and offensive smear campaigns targeting women, the adviser said the state would use its own institutional mechanisms to identify cybercriminals.

Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed and Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s Additional Secretary Mohammed Yasin were present.