EC to hold 152 upazila polls in first phase on May 8

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the first phase polls to upazila parishad will be held on May 8.

A total of 152 upazilas around the country will go to the polls in the first phase, EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told reporters on Thursday.

The EC decided the poll date and schedule in a meeting held at the Commission Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair.

According to the schedule, the last date for nomination paper submission is April 15. 

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 17, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 22.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used to the elections to 22 upazilas under 9 districts. The districts are Cox’s Bazar, Shariatpur, Chandpur, Jamalpur, Pabna, Jashore, Pirojpur, and Manikganj. 

Polling for the rest of the 130 upazilas will be held on ballot papers.

The upazila elections across the country will take place in four phases. 

Elections in the second phase will be held on May 23, in the third phase on May 29, and in the fourth phase on June 5.

Bangladesh has 492 upazilas.