The fifth Upazila Parishad elections will kick-off nationwide on Sunday, with balloting in 80 upazilas of 12 districts under four divisions in the first phase.
Voting will take place from 8am to 4pm, without any breaks.
“All preparations have been completed for holding the elections in a peaceful manner. All kinds of directives have been given to the officials concerned for holding the elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. No irregularities will be tolerated during this election,” Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said on Saturday.
In addition, a general holiday has been announced in the respective upazilas on the occasion of the election.
Electioneering ended on Friday night, and there is much enthusiasm among voters as the polls will be held with party symbols.
Restrictions on vehicular movement have been imposed in electoral areas, and additional law enforcement personnel have been deployed for five days- from two days before the polls to two days after.
A total 14 members of law enforcement agencies will be deployed at each general polling centre on polling day, while 16 will be deployed at each risky polling centre.
Although the Election Commission declared election schedule for 87 upazilas in the first phase, polls will be held in 80 upazilas. The commission postponed elections in three upazilas – Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat, Purbadhola in Netrokona, and Jamalganj in Sunamganj – on Friday.
Furthermore, elections will not be held in three upazilas – Molahando and Madarganj upazilas of Jamalpur district, and Natore Sadar – as all candidates in the upazilas have been elected unopposed.
Meanwhile, the court has postponed the elections in Paba upazila of Rajshahi.
In the first phase of the upazila parishad elections, a total 29 candidates, including 16 chairmen, six vice-chairmen, and seven women vice-chairpersons, have so far been elected unopposed.
A total 894 aspirants, including 273 for the chairman post, 406 for vice-chairman, and 273 for women vice-chairperson, are contesting the first phase polls. Around 15.3 million voters will exercise their franchise at 39,159 polling booths in 6,219 polling centers of the 80 upazilas.
In the first phase, the elections will be held in five upazilas in Panchagarh, six in Nilphamari, four in Lalmonirhat, nine in Kurigram, five in Jamalpur, eight in Netrokona, 10 in Sunamganj, eight in Habiganj, eight in Sirajganj, five in Joypurhat, five in Natore and eight in Rajshahi.
The upazilas are: Panchagarh Sadar, Atwari, Boda, Debiganj, and Tetulia of Panchagarh; Nilphamari Sadar, Domar, Dimla, Jaldhaka, Syedpur, and Kishoreganj of Nilphamari; Lalmonirhat Sadar, Patgram, Hatibandha, and Kaliganj of Lalmonirhat; Kurigram Sadar, Bhurungamari, Fulbari, Ulipur, Nageshwari, Rajarhat, Rajibpur, Chilmari, and Raomari of Kurigram.
Jamalpur Sadar, Bokshiganj, Dewanganj, Islampur and Sarishabari upazilas of Jamalpur; Netrokona Sadar, Barhatta, Durgapur, Kalmakanda, Kendua, Khaliajuri, Madan, and Mohanganj upazilas of Netrokona; Sunamganj Sadar, Derai, Bishwambharpur, Chhatak, South Sunamganj, Dharmapasha, Dowarabazar, Sullah, and Tahirpur upazilas of Sunamganj; Habiganj Sadar, Bahubal, Madhabpur, Chunarughat, Lakhai, Nabiganj, Ajmiriganj, and Baniachong upazilas of Habiganj.
Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Chauhali, Kazipur, Raiganj, Shahjadpur, Tarash, and Ullahpara upazilas of Sirajganj; Joypurhat Sadar, Akkelpur, Kalai, Khetlal, and Panchbibi upazilas of Joypurhat; Bagatipara, Baraigram, Gurudaspur, Lalpur, and Singra upazilas of Natore; Tanore, Godagari, Mohanpur, Bagmara, Puthia, Durgapur, Charghat, and Bagha upazilas of Rajshahi.
As per the election schedule, elections will be held in 129 upazilas in the second phase on March 18, and in 127 upazilas in the third phase on March 24.
Besides, the fourth and fifth phases of the Upazila Parishad elections will be held on March 31 and July 18, respectively.
