UZ polls campaign kicks off

The candidates of the first phase of the upazila polls on Tuesday formally began their campaign to woo voters after getting their election symbol. As per the schedule of the elections to the 98 upazilas, the returning officers are distributing the symbol among the candidates, said a deputy secretary of the Election Commission secretariat. Election candidates can embark on electioneering once they are allocated symbols. The first phase of election in 98 upaizilas of 40 districts is billed for February 19. A total of 1,274 candidates are contesting the polls against 294 posts of chairman, vice chairman and reserved vice chairman post of women in the upazilas. Of them, 432 are chairman contenders while 513 vice-chairman candidates and 329 reserved vice-chairman contesters, according to a news agency.