Local government elections at city corporations, municipalities, zila parishads, upazila parishads and union parishads will be completed within the current fiscal year, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said on Monday.

“We will complete five local government elections within the current fiscal year and there will be no deviation from this, InshaAllah,” he told reporters after a review meeting of departments, agencies and institutions under the Local Government Department and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Department.

He said funds have already been allocated in the current fiscal year's budget for holding elections at the five levels.

The Election Commission has started initial preparations, while the government has estimated that around Tk 6,000 crore will be needed to complete the elections, he said.

The state minister said the timing of the elections would also depend on the financial situation.

“Once the Election Commission's preparations are complete, the Election Commission, Local Government Department and Finance Department will sit together and decide the timing,” he said.

However, the state minister said the government’s firm position was to complete all five elections within the current fiscal year which ends in June next year.

“We have taken time until June next year. We will hand over responsibility to the people’s representatives as soon as we can hold the elections,” he said.

Shahe Alam said the government would try to begin the elections as soon as possible, taking into account the Election Commission’s preparations and the availability of funds.