Seventh Phase of UP Polls Underway

Voting is underway for the seventh phase of local body elections to 138 Union Parishads (UP) in 24 Upazilas of 20 districts, reports media.

The balloting began at 8 am on Monday and will continue till 4 pm without any break.

A total of 5,874 candidates, including 576 chairman contenders, are in the electoral race in the 138 Ups of 24 Upazilas, joint secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman said on Sunday.

But 71 contestants, including 11 chairman candidates, have already been elected unopposed, finding no rival candidate against their post.

More than 2.45 million voters are there under a total of 1,350 polling stations in the 138 UPs.

Of them, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in nine UPs, while the traditional ballot papers will be used in the rest ones.

On December 29 last, the EC announced the schedule for the 7th phase countrywide UP election. The deadline for submission of nomination papers expired on January 12 last.

The 138 UPs are 24 ones in Cumilla, 19 in Rangamati, 17 in Rangpur, 16 in Chattogram, 11 in Mymensingh, nine in Kishoreganj, eight in Noakhali, seven in Sunamganj, six in Patuakhali, five in Khagrachhari, three in Bandarban, two each in Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Joypurhat and Sirajganj, one each in Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar.