Upazila Parishad polls: Electioneering ends tonight

The electioneering for the first phase of Upazila Parishad polls slated for Sunday will end tonight.

The Election Commission (EC) has taken all necessary preparations for holding the polls in 83 upazilas under the first phase, EC sources said.

The candidates for the posts of chairman, vice-chairman and reserved vice-chairman are conducting their last-minute campaign.

Most heavyweight candidates for the posts of chairman are trying to bag maximum votes in the elections.

A total 16 candidates for the posts of chairman, 9 for vice-chairman and 5 for the posts of reserved vice-chairman have already been elected unopposed.

A total 286 candidates are contesting for 86 chairman posts, 487 for vice-chairman posts and 316 reserved vice-chairman posts, EC sources said.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed as striking forces in the upazilas two days before the voting.

Fourteen members of police, and Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) will be deployed at every polling centre on the election days while the number of law enforcers will be 15 for each risky and special centre.

Executives and judicial magistrates will carry out their duties during the polls to check violation of electoral code of conducts.

Mobile and striking forces comprised of the members from police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Armed Police Battalion, BGB, Coast

Guard and Ansar will be deployed in the upazilas.

The members of the law enforcing agencies will do their duty consulting the concerned returning officers.

EC Joint Secretary (public relations) SM Asaduzzaman said all types of campaigns for the election will be postponed 32 hours prior to the staring of election time.

The EC has also banned showing and carrying of licensed arms seven days before the election.

The election commission has imposed a ban on riding motorcycles and motorised vehicles in the 83 upazilas.

Restrictions on motorbikes came into effect on Thursday midnight and that of  motorised vehicles will be effective from Saturday midnight.

The restriction will be applicable to motorised three-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, motorbikes, cabs, microbuses, jeeps, pickups, private cars, buses, trucks, easy-bikes and locally assembled vehicles.

The restriction will be relaxed on motorbikes on the inter-district roads and  highways.

The restriction will not be applicable for the vehicles of all officials engaged in election duty and that of the law enforcement agencies.

The vehicles of fire service and civil defence, electricity, gas, telecom and ambulances will be kept out of the purview of the restriction.

Source: dailysun