91 more upazilas go to polls Sunday

Ninety-one more upazila parishads across 43 districts are going to polls Sunday in the 4th phase of the staggered local government elections. The voting will open at 8am and continue till 4pm without any break. The Election Commission asked law enforcers to take necessary steps to prevent possible violence and polls anomalies, according to a news agency. Election Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mobarak, who is now performing the duty of Chief Election Commissioner, Saturday said there will be no violence during the elections as in the previous three phases of the upazila polls. One platoon of army members was deployed Friday in each upazila, and they will work as a striking force to maintain an election-friendly environment in the areas till Tuesday. Besides, one team of 14 security men will guard each normal polling station, while a team of 16 security men will ensure security to each vulnerable station. As many as 364 magistrates — 273 executive and 91 judicial ones — have been appointed to lead mobile courts in the election areas with a view to curbing any possible election violence and violation of polls codes. A total of 1,186 candidates are contesting the elections against 273 posts in the 91 upazilas. Of them, 389 are chairman candidates, 485 vice chairman contenders and 312 vice chairman candidates for the post set aside for women. There are 1,38,59,278 voters — 69,07,956 men and 69,51,322 women — who can exercise their franchise in 37,338 booths of 5884 polling stations in the upazilas. Some 1,18,000 election officials will be on election duty during the voting. Of the officials, 5884 are presiding officers, 37,338 assistant presiding officers and 74,676 are polling officials.