ZCZC
BSS-07
UZ-POLL-CONTINUE
Voting in upazila parishad polls continues peacefully
DHAKA, March 10, 2019 (BSS) – Voting in the first phase of 5th Upazila
Parishad elections is continuing peacefully as a festive mood is prevailing
in the polling centers.
The polling to 78 upazilas of 12 districts under four divisions started at
8 this morning and it will continue till 4 pm without any break.
A huge turnover of voters was seen casting their franchise standing in
queue peacefully since morning while general holiday was announced for today
in the respective upazilas on the occasion of the election.
“All kinds of directives have been given to the officials concerned for
holding the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner. No irregularities
will be tolerated during the election,” Election Commission (EC) Secretary
Helal Uddin Ahmed told BSS today.
EC Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan said the commission has taken all
measures to make the elections peaceful.
He said necessary directives have been sent with the strict instructions
to the Returning and Assistant Returning Officers, saying “if any
irregularities took place during the polling time, they (Returning and
Assistant Returning Officers) will have to be held responsible”.
Although the EC declared election schedule for 87 upazilas in the first
phase, polls are being held in 78 upazilas as voting has been postponed in 10
upazilas for various reasons.
Additional law enforcement agencies have been deployed in the electoral
areas and they will remain in the field for two more days after the election.
Some 14 members of law enforcement agencies are discharging their duties
in every polling centre while 16 have been deployed in the risky polling
centers.
In the first phase of the upazila parishad elections, a total of 29
candidates, including 16 chairmen, six vice-chairmen and seven women vice-
chairmen, so far have been elected uncontested.
About 894 aspirants, including 273 for chairman, 406 for vice-chairman and
273 for women vice-chairman posts, are contesting the first phase polls.
About 1.53 crore voters will exercise their franchise today at 39, 159
polling booths in 6,219 polling centers.
BSS/ASG/MSH/SRH/GMR/1304 hrs