Union Parishad polls from Mar 22

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for Union Parishad elections to be held in six phases.

Voting will be held on Mar 22, Mar 31, Apr 23, May 7, May 28 and June 4.

The chairman elections will see direct participation of political parties for the first time this year.

The commission declared the schedule for the first phase of the elections on Thursday.

The schedules for the remaining five phases will be announced by returning officers at local level.

In the first phase, on Mar 22 elections will be held in 752 union councils, said Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz.

Elections to another 710 union councils will be held in the second phase on Mar 31.

The third phase will see polling in 711 unions on Apr 23, followed by polling in 728 unions on May 7, and in another 714 unions on May 28. In the last phase 660 unions will go to poll on June 4.

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“The elections will be held on the days when there will be no SSC examinations so that those taking exams are not disturbed.”

“The commission has fixed the schedule for the first phase. The returning officers will announce the schedules for the remaining phases.”

Filing of nominations by the candidates taking part in the Mar 22 elections will be held on Feb 22, said EC Public Relations director SM Asaduzzaman.

The last date for withdrawal was Mar 2, after scrutiny on Feb 23 and 24.

Registered political parties will be able to take part only in chairmen elections. Only non-party candidates will take part in the elections to the members and reserved women seats.

Of the 4,500 Union Parishads, 4, 279 are eligible for the polls.