State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Tuesday said five local government elections will be held in the country during the current fiscal year, with BDT 6,000 crore allocated in the budget for the polls.

He made the remarks while briefing reporters at the Secretariat after a meeting with Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller.

The Danish ambassador called on LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and State Minister Mir Shahe Alam at the Secretariat on Tuesday morning.

Speaking about the planned local government elections, Shahe Alam said a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) will be held next week to discuss various issues concerning the polls, subject to approval from the prime minister.

He said the EC will decide the election schedule and dates.

“After the discussion with the EC, the ministry will hold a briefing on the local government elections,” the state minister said.

During the meeting with the Danish envoy, assistance from Denmark for water supply management in the capital was a major issue of discussion, Shahe Alam said.

He said Denmark has agreed to support the completion of the third phase of the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant project.

“Denmark will help complete the third phase of the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant project. In this phase, Denmark will provide BDT 4,500 crore for the BDT 16,000-crore water treatment plant project,” he said.

Shahe Alam said BDT 1,500 crore of the Danish assistance will be provided as a grant, while the government will pay back the remaining BDT 3,000 crore in phases over the next 20 years.

“Once this project is implemented, it will be possible to treat 95 crore liters of water from the Meghna River,” he said.

The state minister also said Denmark will provide BDT 100 crore in assistance for the Rohingyas.

Earlier, the Danish envoy met with Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Mir Shahe Alam at the Secretariat as part of discussions on cooperation between Bangladesh and Denmark.