3rd phase polls to 63 municipalities underway

The third phase polls to sixty-three municipalities began on Saturday.

The voting began at 8am and will continue at a stretch till 4pm, according to the Election Commission (EC).

A total of 3,344 candidates -229 candidates for Mayoral posts, 755 for reserved councilors posts and 2,360 candidates for general councilors posts – are vying in the polls, according to the Election Commission (EC), reports BSS.

In the third phase, 37 candidates have already been elected unopposed. The mayoral candidates of Laksham in Cumilla, Morelganj in Bagerhat and Tungipara in Gopalganj have been elected uncontested.

Besides, nine councilors for reserved seats and 25 general councilors also have been elected uncontested.

The members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Police and Ansars have been deployed to ensure law and order during the election. Four-tier security arrangements have been taken ahead of the polls day.

Sixty-three judicial magistrates have also been appointed for five days in the sixty-three municipalities across the country. Restrictions have been imposed on plying motorbikes since Thursday at the polling areas. The restrictions will remain effective till 6am on Sunday.

The plying of trucks and pick-ups also will remain suspended in the polls area till 12am on January 30 from 12.00 midnight on Friday. The movement of launch, motorized boats and speed boats will also remain suspend at that time.

But the movements of small motorized boats will be kept out of purview of the restriction.

The sixty-three municipalities are: Hakimpur in Dinajpur, Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, Ulipur in Kurigram, Gobindaganj in Gaibandha, Dhunat, Shibganj, Gabtoli, Kahalu and Nandigram of Bogura, Rohonpur in Chapainawabganj, Sadar and Dhamoirhat in Naogaon, Mundumala and Kehorhat in Rajshahi, Singra in Natore, Pabna Sadar, Sadar and Dharshana in Chuadanga, Harinakundu and Courtchandpur in Jenaidah, Manirampur in Jeshore,

Sadar and Kalia in Narail, Morelganj in Bagerhat, Paikgacha in Khulna, Kalaroa in Satkhira, Sadar and Pathargata in Borguna, Borhanuddin and Dowlatkhan in Bhola, Gournadi and Mehendiganj in Barishal, Nalchiti in Jalokhathi, Sarupkathi in Pirojpur, Sadar, Mirjapur, Bhiyanpur, Shakhipur and Madhupur in Tangail,

Sharishabari in Jamalpur, Nakla and Nalitabari in Sherpur, Bhaluka, Gouripur and Ishwarganj in Mymensingh, Durgapur in Netrokona, Katiadi in Kishorganj, Munshiganj Sadar, Pangsha in Rajbari, Tungipara in Gopalganj, Naria, Bhedorganj and Jajira inShariatpur, Golapganj and

Jokiganj in Sylhet, Moulbi Bazar Sadar, Barura and Chowdhagram in Cumilla, Haziganj in Chandpur Feni Sadar, Hatia and Chowmuhani in Noakhali and Ramganj in Lakhipur.

The election of Sujanagar municipality in Pabna has been postponed on Thursday.

The country has total 329 municipalities —in the first phase polls were held through EVMs to 24 municipalities on December 28. In the second phase, polls was held to 60 municipalities on January 16.

In fourth phase, polls were held to 56 municipalities on February 14 and polls to remaining 31 municipalities will be held under fifth phase on February 28.