Polls halted in 19 upazilas due to Cyclone Remal

The Election Commission on Monday postponed the elections to 19 out of 109 upazila parishads slated for tomorrow (Wednesday) due to the landfall of cyclone Remal on Sunday, report agencies.
Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said this at a press conference in the Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon area in the city.
He said the EC and the field-level administration took preparations to conduct elections to 109 upazila parishads in the third phase of the sixth upazila parishad election tomorrow (Wednesday).
But the Commission postponed the elections to 19 upazila parishads considering the severe brunt of the cyclone Remal in the election areas, said the EC Secretary, adding that the decision was taken depending on information so far gathered from the field.
The list includes 18 coastal Upazilas and one hill Upazila, Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam told the media on Monday.
"Water has risen in some areas due to the storm, other places are without power, and a few are cut off. As a result, the decision has been taken to postpone the polls."
The third phase of the sixth Upazila Parishad elections is to be held on tomorrow (Wednesday). With 19 Upazilas dropped from the list, 90 will still be going to the polls.
The upazilas where the voting was postponed are Sharankhola, Morelganj, Mongla, Koyra, Paikgacha, Dumuria, Gaurnadi, Agoiljhara, Patuakhali Sadar, Mirzaganj, Dumki, Mathbaria, Tazumuddin, Lalmohan, Rajapur, Kathalia, Bamna, Pathorghata, and Baghaichhari.
"The decision to suspend these polls was based on information sent to us from the field level by the local administration," the EC secretary said. "If more information comes in about other upazilas ahead of the polls, they can be suspended as well."
The local government elections see 485 of 495 upazilas across the country go to the polls.
The first phase of the polls took place in 139 upazilas on May 8. The turnout averaged 36 percent and 28 candidates were elected unopposed.
The second phase was held on May 21 and the turnout was approximately 38 percent.
The third phase of the polls is scheduled for May 29, while the fourth will be on Jun 5.
The Awami League has not fielded any party candidates in the local government polls, instead barring its members from running under the boat symbol for the post of chairman. Leaders in the party are running as independents.
The BNP is boycotting the polls, but some of the party's leaders have gone against its wishes to run as independents as well.