Third Phase Of Upazila Polls Underway

The third phase of the upazila parishad elections is underway in 87 upazilas across the country. Voting started at 8am on Wednesday in 87 upazilas across Bangladesh. The polls are set to continue uninterrupted until 4pm. The first phase of these elections recorded a voter turnout of 36.1%, while the second phase saw a turnout of 37.57%. The BNP is boycotting the polls, as it did the January 7 general election, citing a lack of confidence in the Election Commission's ability to hold free and fair local government elections.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission had to suspend voting in 22 upazilas due to the impact of Cyclone Remal.

Initially, the EC was scheduled to hold elections in 109 upazilas in the third phase. But it suspended elections in 22 upazilas due to Cyclone Remal. It also withheld elections in two upazilas due to High Court orders and deaths of candidates.

Furthermore, there will be no elections in Pirojpur's Bhandari upazila since all chairman and vice chairman candidates were elected unopposed.

The suspended upazilas are — Sharankhola in Bagerhat, Morelganj, Mongla, Koyra in Khulna district, Dumuria, Paikgacha, Gournadi in Barisal, Agailjhara, Patuakhali Sadar, Dumki, Mirzaganj, Mathbaria in Pirojpur, Tajumuddin in Bhola, Lalmohan, Rajapur and Kathalia in Barguna, Bamna and Patharghata in Barguna and Polling has been suspended in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati district, Khaliajuri of Netrakona district and Kachua and Faridganj upazilas of Chandpur district. Besides, the election has been postponed due to the collapse of the road due to a cyclone in Khaliajuri upazila and no electricity connection of EVMs in Kachua and Faridganj upazilas.

Voting is going on in 16 centers through EVMs, while voting is being done through paper ballots in the remaining centers. Government holidays have been announced in the respective upazilas on the occasion of the election. Besides, traffic restrictions have been imposed in polling areas.

A total of 1,152 candidates -- 397 for chairman, 456 for vice chairman, and 299 for vice chairman reserved for women posts -- are contesting in the polls, during which some 2.08 crore voters are expected to vote at 7,450 polling centers.

Taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, and trucks will be banned from May 28 at 12:00 PM to May 29 at 12:00 PM for polling. The EC has banned the movement of motorcycles for three days. BGB police and other law enforcement forces have been deployed to control the polling environment.