Dhaka, June 1 -- The Election Commission (EC) plans to complete the revision and updating of all rules and codes of conduct related to local government elections by June next, considering the period from late October to March as the most suitable time to begin elections to local government bodies.

The Commission thinks elections to union parishads and municipalities should be held first as people are being deprived of essential services due to absence of elected representatives in the grassroots bodies.

The EC plans to hold the elections to local government bodies in phases to ensure peaceful polls and avoid violence that marked many local elections in the past.

Since there are no elected representatives in almost all the local bodies,...