After holding its first phase election, the Election Commission has declared that it will hold polls to 74 upazilas in fifth phase on March 31.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday announced the fifth phase poll schedule at a press conference at the EC secretariat in the capital.
The last date of filing nomination paper is March 2 and the nomination would be scrutinised on March 5.
The last day of withdrawal of nomination paper is March 12.
The second phase of elections to 117 upazilas will be held on February 27 while in the third phase, 83 upazilas will go to polls on March 15 and 92 will come under the fourth phase of election on March 23.
The CEC said the first phase upazila poll was held in a free and fair manner.
Some stray incidents marked the first phase poll in some areas, the CEC admitted, but the commission would make an all-out preparation for prevention of such incidents in the future.
About the voters’ turnout in the first phase poll, Rakibuddin said there were around 60%-65% turnout of voters in 97 upazilas.
A senior assistant secretary to the Election Commission yesterday said the commission would hold re-election to five centres of Sonatola upazila in Bogra for the post of vice-chairman and two centres in Sirajganj Ullahpara for the post of chairman.
The commission has also announced the schedule of Dhamrai upazila poll to be held on March 23.
It has announced the poll schedule of 465 of 487 upazilas in five phases.
According to the EC officials, the upazila parishad poll would come to an end in the fifth phase.
They said the commission did not announce the poll schedule to 22 upazilas.
The commission would announce the poll schedule of some upazilas only after settling the demarcation issue.
