Polls to 97 UZs today
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
The first phase of the elections to 97 upazila parishads will be held today (Wednesday), reports BSS.
Voting will start at 8 am and continue till 4 pm without any break in 34 districts.
The Election Commission (EC) has already completed all preparations for holding the polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner, Election Commissioner M Shahnewaz told the news agency.
Election materials have been sent to the polling centres.
Electioneering remained stopped in the upazilas since Monday midnight. Restrictions have also been imposed on vehicular movements. Today (Wednesday) is a public holiday in the areas concerned.
EC Secretariat official Ashfaqur Rahman said army personnel have been deployed in the field since Monday as the striking force.
Besides, there are adequate members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and ansar.
An EC official said members of army will stay in the field in 97 upazilas for five days.
Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Raqibuddin Ahmed said special measures have been taken to ensure security of minority communities.
The upazilas where polls will be held today are: Bheramara and Kushtia Sadar in Kushtia, Karimganj, Nikli and Bajitpur in Kishoreganj, Ulipur, Fulbari, and Bhurangamari in Kurigram, Koyra and Dighilia in Khulna, Panchhari, Mahalchhari, Matiranga, Manikchhari and Ramgarh in Khagrachhari, Saghata and Gabindaganj in Gaibandha, Kapasia in Gazipur, Kashiyani and Maksudpur in Gopalganj, Mirsarai and Hathazari in Chittagong, Nachole in Chapainawabganj, Sarishabari and Jamalpur Sadar in Jamalpur, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur and Shailakupa and Jhenidah Sadar in Jhenidah, Dohar and Nababganj in Dhaka, Kaharol and Khansama in Dinajpur, Mahadevpur and Raninagar in Noagaon, Kalia in Narail, Polash and Belabo in Narsingdi, Singra in Natore, Jaldhaka, Dimla and Syedpur in Nilphamari, Durgapur and Kendua in Netrakona, Boda, Atoyari, Panchagar Sadar and Debiganj in Panchagarh, Santhia, Sujanagar and Atgharia in Pabna, Dupchachia, Sariakandi, Dhanut, Nandigram, Sherpur and Sonatala of Bogra, Gouranadi and Bakerganj in Barisal, Lalmohan in Bhola, Shreepur and Magura Sadar in Magura, Kalkini in Madaripur, Doulatpur, Singair, Saturia and Shibalaya in Manikganj, Meherpur Sadar, Kulaura in Moulvibazar, Avoynagar in Jessore, Taraganj, Mithapukur, Baliakandi, Rajbari Sadar and Pancha in Rajbari, Mohanpur in Rajshahi, Vederganj, Jajira and Damudya of Shariatpur, Dakkhin Sunamganj, Doyarabazar and Chhatak in Sunamganj, Ashashuni in Satkhira, Kazipur, Rayganj, Sirajganj Sadar and Ullapara in Sirajganj, Biswanath, Jakiganj, Companiganj, Golapganj, Goainhat and Jaintapur in Sylhet, Bahubal and Madabpur in Habiganj.
The EC on January 19 announced schedules for holding polls in those upazilas in the first phase.