No Decision On Local Govt Polls Yet: Adviser Asif

No final decision has been made on holding local government elections before the parliamentary polls, says Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.

“But a policy decision has been made [on the matter],” he said at a press conference at Nagar Bhaban on Monday (February 10) afternoon.

Asif Mahmud said the local government elections came up during discussions on the national polls roadmap. “A final decision will be made after discussing with all parties,” he said.

He said that India interfered in Bangladesh's foreign policy unnecessarily during the previous Sheikh Hasina-led government. "Now, the attempt to interfere has failed. We hope that India will not get the opportunity to interfere in our foreign policy again."

In response to a question, he said that during the previous government, India avoided the issue of three rigged elections, calling them Bangladesh's internal matter. However, it is commenting on the demolition of a building. “It shouldn't be difficult to understand that India has an interest here,” he said.