Dhaka, Sept. 24 -- The Election Commission (EC) is considering starting the Union Parishad (UP) elections from January next year, saying there is no scope for holding the polls in November and December due to the annual examinations in schools.

"We usually see annual examinations being held in November-December. We will set the election schedule considering that. If these examinations are completed by December, we will, InshaAllah, be able to hold the elections from January," Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said on Thursday.

He said this replying to a question from reporters at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

Earlier, the EC had announced a tentative plan to hold the UP elections in seven phases, with the first phase sc...