The third phase of the Upazila polls has started at 8am on Saturday. In this phase, 81 Upazila councils in 41 districts will go to the hustings. Polling will go on until 4pm.
Published : 15 Mar 2014, 08:09 AM
“We are all ready and determined to hold the polls smoothly,” Election Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mobarak has said.
The first and second phases of the Upazila polls were held amid sporadic violence on Feb 19 and 27 respectively.
“We cannot say for sure that no unpleasant event will take place on the polling day,” said Mobarak.
“Local administration can also increase or reduce security at a polling centre, considering its vulnerability.”
The election commissioner said law enforcers have been instructed to deal with any unpleasant development.
Polling will take place at 5456 voting stations in 81 Upazilas, instead of 83 originally scheduled , from 8am to 4pm.
The elections have been postponed at Gazipur’s Sreepur and Sylhet’s Fenchuganj due to clashes and a legal tangle respectively.
A total of 1119 candidates are contesting for the 243 posts. Each Upazila will have a chairman, a vice-chairman and a female vice-chairman.
The 81 Upazilas have more than 103 million voters.
The election campaigns ended on Thursday night.