The fourth phase of upazila election is underway in 91 upazilas of the country, in what the Election Commission has sought for security to the Bangladesh Army.
Voting began from 8am on Sunday morning and is scheduled to run nonstop until 4pm.
Though 93 upazilas were scheduled to run polls in this phase, that for Jagannathpur upazila, Sunamganj and Sherpur Sadar have been halted by court.
The three previous phases of upazila elections were marked with violence in some parts of the country.
In the backdrop of such, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Abul Mobarak said law enforcers will shoot if they are faced with ballot snatching.
The commission also has requested the armed forces to play its role in maintenance of law and order in a letter issued by the acting CEC on Saturday.
So far, ruling Awami League and BNP are almost neck-to-neck in terms of winning the chairman posts in the three previous upazila elections in 294 upazilas.
The fifth phase of upazila election will be held on March 31, what will see 74 upazilas entering local poll for chairman, vice chairman and woman vice chairman.
Fourth phase upazila poll
A total of 1,186 candidates are contesting for the position of chairman, vice chairman and woman vice chairman in the 91 upazilas.
There are 447 aspirants contesting for the chairman posts, 519 for the vice chairman and 311 for the seat of woman vice chairman.
The total number of voters in these upazilas amount to 13,859,278 – among whom 6,907,956 are males and 6,951,322 are females.
