Balloting on in 115 UZs

A week after the first phase polls in 97 upazilas, the residents of 115 upazila parishads (UZ) in 52 districts started casting their votes at 8am on Thursday to pick their long list of representatives to the UZs in the second phase of the local government polls. The vote in 115 UZs will end at 4pm without any break. One platoon of the army (34 members) remained deployed in each upazila for five days. The army personnel were deployed on Tuesday to work as striking forces to maintain election-friendly environment in the polls areas. Alongside regular law-enforcement agencies, BGB members are working as striking forces in the election areas. Besides, a team of 14-17 security men will guard each polling station. A total of 1,340 candidates are contesting the election against 345 posts in the 115 upazilas. Of them, 500 are chairman contenders, 506 vice chairman candidates and 334 are vice chairman candidates for the posts set aside for women. There are 19,592,868 voters – 9,805,150 males and 9,787,718 females — who can exercise their franchise through 51,129 booths of 8032 polling stations in the upazilas. Some 161,000 election officials are there on polls duty. Of the officials, 8,032 are presiding officers, 51,129 assistant presiding officers and 102,258 are polling officials. Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz on Wednesday said the law enforcement agencies were asked to prevent the recurrence of any violence, happened in the first phase upazila elections, in the second phase. The commission completed all necessary preparations for arranging elections in 115 upazilas, he told reporters at his Election Commission Secretariat office. The 115 upazilas are Tentulia in Panchagarh district, Baliadangi and Ranishankail in Thakurgaon, Ghoraghat, Chirirbandar, Birampur and Birganj in Dinajpur, Kishoreganj in Nilphamari, Patgram, Sadar and Hatibandha in Lalmonirhat, Badarganj in Rangpur, Nageshwari, Rajarhat and Rajibpur in Kurigram, Polashbari in Gaibandha, Khetlal, Kalai and Sadar in Joypurhat, Kahalu, Shibganj, Adamdighi and Shahjahanpur in Bogra, Gomastapur in Chapainawabganj, Atrai, Neyamatpur, Patnitala, Badalgachhi, Sadar and Sapahar in Naogaon, Bagha in Rajshahi, Bagatipara, Gurudaspur, Lalpur and Sadar in Natore, Tarash in Sirajganj, Chatmahar and Bhanghura in Pabna, Gangni and Mujibnagar in Meherpur, Kumarkhali, Khuksa and Mirpur in Kushtia, Maheshpur in Jhenidah, Chowgachha, Jikargachha, Bagharpara and Sharsha in Jessore, Mohammadpur and Salikha in Magura, Kachua and Fakirhat in Bagerhat, Damuria in Khulna, Shymnagar in Satkhira, Charfasson and Borhanuddin in Bhola, Barisal Sadar, Kaukhali and Najirpur in Pirojpur, Sakhipur in Tangail, Islampur, Bakshiganj and Melandah in Jamalpur, Jhenaigati in Sherpur, Iswarganj, Bhaluka and Sadar in Mymensingh, Kalmakanda, Khaliajuri, Purbadhola and Barhatta in Netrakona, Sadar and Harirampur in Manikganj, Sreenagar and Sadar in Munshiganj, Keraniganj and Savar in Dhaka, Shibpur in Narsingdi, Nagarkanda, Boalmari and Saltha in Faridpur, Kotalipara and Sadar in Gopalganj, Rajoir and Shibchar in Madaripur, Dirai and Sadar in Sunamganj, Balaganj in Sylhet, Chunarughat in Habiganj, Sarail in Brahmanbaria, Debidwar, Monaharganj and Laksam in Comilla, Faridganj, Matlab Uttar, Matlab Dakkhin and Sadar in Chandpur, Parshuram and Sadar in Feni, Kabirhat, Companyganj, Chatkhil, Sadar and Sonaimuri in Noakhali, Patiya and Lohagarah in Chittagong, Pakua, Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar, Laxmichhari in Khagrachhari, Kaptai and Naniarchar in Rangamati, and Thanchi, Ruma, Rongchhari and Lama in Bandarban. On January 23, the EC announced schedule for the second phase in 117 upazila parishads fixing voting for February 27. Later, the commission deferred the election in Maheshkahli upazila in Cox’s Bazar to March 1 due to a religious festival of the Hindu community, while the EC suspended the polls of Haimchar in Chandpur for delimitation complexities. Earlier on February 19 and 24, the first phase election in 98 upazilas was held. In the upazilas, 44 BNP-blessed chairman candidates, 34 Awami League-backed chairman candidates and 12 Jamaat-supported chairman candidates won the polls. The EC, in five phases, declared election schedules for a total of 464 upazilas out of the country’s 487 upazilas. The third phase election in 83 upazilas will be held on March 15, while the 4th phase in 92 upazilas on March 23 and the fifth phase in 74 upazilas on March 31, according to UNB.