The army personnel will work as striking force in 97 upazilas from Monday ahead of the first phase election slated for February 19.”The members of the armed forces will be deployed in 97 upazilas, two days before the (first phase) election. They’ll be kept deployed for five days,” Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told reporters at his Election Commission Secretariat office in the city.He said the Election Commission is taking all-out security measures for the upazila elections, though there is no fear of violence in the polls according to reports of different intelligent agencies.The Election Commission plans to declare schedule for the fifth phase of the countrywide upazila election this week and arrange polls there in March next.The Commission has already announced the schedules for the first four phases of elections in 390 upazila parishads out of the 487 in the country.The election will be held in 97 upazilas on February 19 and Pirganj upazila of Rangpur on February 24 as part of first phase elections. The polls will be held in 117 upazilas February 27 in the second phase; in 83 upazilas on March 15 in the third phase; and 92 upazilas on March 23 in the fourth phase.Commissioner Shah Nawaz said the Election Commission will also arrange the polls in few upazilas after the HSC examination scheduled to be held in April and May.Asked about the allegation of polls code violation raised by BNP and pro-BNP candidates, he said: “Anyone having any specific allegation regarding the rival candidates, may lodge complaint with the returning officers concerned. If necessary, a copy of the complaint can be submitted to the EC.”During the 4th countrywide upazila polls, the commission has a plan to hold elections in nearly 480 upazilas.
