Voting in final phase UP polls underway

Voting in the election to 698 union parishads (UPs) of 82 upazilas across 47 of the country’s 64 districts began on Saturday morning in the 6th and final phase of the polls to the lowest tier of the local government, reports the UNB.

 

The balloting started at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break.

 

Like the previous five phases, no balloting is required against 27 chairman posts where ruling Awami League candidates have already been elected uncontested in this phase.

 

Earlier, some 190 AL chairman contenders were elected unopposed in the first five phases of the violence-marred elections beginning in March last.

 

Some 3,200 candidates are vying for chairman posts, while some 30,000 others for member posts and reserved seats of the UPs.

 

In the wake of election violence that killed over 100 people, the EC has taken a few preventive measures in the final phase election.

 

The EC on Friday, a day before the balloting, sent a letter to the Home Ministry asking the law enforcement agencies to take the highest cautionary measures to prevent violence and irregularities in the 6th phase polls.

 

In the letter, the EC said five phases of the UP polls have already been completed.

 

The voting of the sixth and final phase is scheduled for June 4. Violence and clashes also occurred and some people were killed at different places in the balloting of the 5th phase, which is not expected.

 

“In this context, the EC has issued directives that law enforcement agencies will take highest cautionary measures to arrange the final phase of the election in a fair and free manner,” the letter reads.

 

Besides, the EC ordered the withdrawal of an assistant superintendent of police in Tangail and the officer-in-charge of Shailakupa Police Station of Jhenidah. 

 

The EC has completed all necessary preparations to arrange the polls in a free and fair manner, said Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz.

 

More than 1.10 crore people are expected to exercise their rights in the 6th phase election.

 

Five magistrates, four executive magistrates and a judiciary magistrate remain deployed to take action against election irregularities for four days from Thursday in each upazilas.

 

Alongside the magistrates, additional number of police, Rab, BGB, APBn, Ansar and Coastguard members will remain deployed for four days in the election areas to maintain electoral environment.

 

On 28 April, the EC announced the election schedule for the 6th phase of the UP election.