Bangladesh will hold elections to local councils in August, the election commission said on Friday, according to Reuters. The elections will be the first called by the country's army-backed interim administration ahead of the national elections set for December. Candidates for the local elections are not directly drawn from political parties, but they play a key role in selection of candidates for the national elections and act as a powerbase. Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda told a news conference that elections to four city corporations -- Rajshahi, Barisal, Sylhet and Khulna and nine municipalities will take place on August 4. Bangladesh has six city corporations and more than 300 municipalities. The elections to the rest of the councils will take place subsequently.
