Voting in 97 upazilas Wednesday

Amid huge enthusiasm among locals, 97 upazilas in 40 districts are going to polls on Wednesday in the first of the staggered local body elections.The voting will open at 8.00 am and continue till 4.00pm without any break.
The Election Commission have already completed all the necessary preparations for the voting in the upazila parishads, Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told UNB  Tuesday.
“The law enforcement agencies have been asked to take special security measures for the members of the minority community so that they can cast their votes without any fear,” he said. Shah Nawaz hoped Wednesday’s election will be free, fair and peaceful.
 A total of 1259 candidates are contesting the election against 291 posts in the 97 upazilas. Of them, 429 are chairman candidates and 505 vice chairman contenders, and 325 vice chairman candidates for the post set aside for women.
There are 1,62,15,437 voters — 80,81,384 males and 81,54,053 females — who can exercise their franchise in 42756 booths of 6889 polling stations in the 97 upazilas, according to a news agency.