Upazila polls schedule likely in 1st week of Feb: EC secy

The schedule for the fifth upazila parishad elections is likely to be announced in the first week of February, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said today.

“We hope the election schedule for the fifth upazila parishad elections will be announced in the first week of February,” the EC secretary said at a press briefing after holding a meeting of the commission.

Elaborating the process of holding the elections, Helal Uddin said the elections will be held in phases.

The elections will be held division-wise in four phases and there will be another phase of elections of those upazila parishads whose tenure will expire later on, he said.

The first phase of the UZ polls will begin in the first week of March, also said.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in district Sadar upazilas across the country, he added.

Elections for reserved women seats

The election schedule for the elections in the 50 reserved seats for women in the 11th parliament will be announced on February 17, according to the EC secretary.

The voter list for the polls will be published by February 12 and the Election Commission will send letter to political parties asking them to inform the EC whether they would contest the elections in alliance.

The parties must inform the EC regarding the issue by January 30, the secretary said.

There’s no scope for fresh polls

Referring to Jatiya Oikyafront’s submission of memorandum to the EC in which the alliance demanded fresh polls under a neutral admiration, Helal Uddin said they have scrupulously analysed all angles and come up with a decision that there’s no scope for fresh elections.

“Even if someone feels aggrieved, they can lodge complaints to the Election Tribunal,” he added.

On January 3, Jatiya Oikyafront submitted a memorandum to the EC demanding fresh parliamentary election bringing allegation that the “administration was blatantly used against the people.”

Source: thedailystar