The Election Commissioner yesterday asked the returning officers and presiding officers to take stern actions against those who violate electoral code during the 2nd phase of the upazila poll.
“Some stray incidents of violence occurred in the first phase of upazila polls. The commission has directed the returning officers and law enforcers to take stern actions so that no incidents of violence take place again during the upazila elections,” said Election Commissioner Mohammad Shah Nawaz while talking reporters at the EC secretariat.
The second phase of elections in 116 upazila parishads is scheduled to be held on February 27.
The EC said Army, Rab, police, Border Guard Bangladesh and Ansar members will be deployed at the upazilas today.
The EC has asked all parties concerned to finish campaigns by midnight today.
The commission has also appointed 464 executive and 116 judicial magistrates for the second phases of upazila poll, the commissioner said.
In the phase, 1,376 candidates are contesting. Of the total candidates, 515 will vie for chairmen posts, 521 for vice-chairmen and 340 for reserved women vice-chairmen posts.
Of total, 1, 98, 51, 176 would apply their voting rights, with 99, 37, 741 male and 99, 13, 435 female voters. The commission has setup 8, 136 polling centres and 54, 436 polling booths for holding the polls.
EC officials also said the EC has appointed 8136 presiding officers and 1,08, 872 polling officers in these polls.