2nd phase of Upazila polls roadmap this week

The Election Commission (EC) has said it will unveil the schedule this week for second phase of Upazila Parishad elections eyeing the ballots in February or the last week of March. “Polls to over 100 Upazila Parishad will take place in the second phase. Feb 27 or 28 or Mar 1 or 2 could be the day of vote,” Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz has disclosed while addressing the journalists at the EC office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad announced the schedule for the first phase of Upazila Parishad polls. He said the polls at 102 Upazilas, out of 487 Upazilas, would be held on February 19. However, Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations are slated for February and the tests might coincide with polling in some areas. The EC is planning to hold staggered elections to Upazila bodies instead of holding them on one day following recommendation from the education ministry so the students can sit the tests unperturbed. Talking to the reporters at the EC office, Shah Nawaz disclosed that the EC plans to unveil the schedule for the second phase of balloting in the next two to four days. He said “Voting will be held before the term due to legal obligations. We have announced the schedule for those Upazilas whose tenures are nearing end. The schedule for second phase of balloting will be announced in the next 2 to 4 days.” He said polls to over 100 Upazila Parishad will take place in the second phase. “Feb 27 or 28 or Mar 1 or 2 could be the vote day,” he added, according to bdnews24.com.