UNB, Dhaka :
The curtain falls on the tense election campaign in 81 upazilas of 41 districts on Thursday midnight, 32 hours before the voting opens in the upazilas.
The voting will take place from 8am to 4pm on Saturday without any break in the third phase election in the 81 upazila parishads.
As per the law, one has to stop election campaign in the upazilas 32 hours before the voting.
One platoon of the army members was deployed on Thursday in each upazila, and they will work as a striking force to maintain an election-friendly environment in the areas till Monday, sources at the Election Commission Secretariat said.
Alongside regular law enforcement agencies, BGB members are working as striking force in the election areas. Besides, a team of 14-17 security men will guard each polling station.
As many as 324 magistrates – 243 executive magistrates and 81 judicial magistrates -have been appointed to lead mobile courts in the polls areas with a view to curbing any possible election violence and violation of polls codes.
A total of 1,119 candidates are contesting the elections against 243 posts in the 81 upazilas. Of them, 419 are chairman candidates, 423 vice chairman contenders and 277 vice chairman candidates for the post set aside for women.
There are 1,31,85,013 voters – 65,48,772 males and 66,17,182 females who can exercise their franchise in 35331 booths of 5444 polling stations in the upazilas.
Over 1,11,000 election officials will be on election duty during the voting. Of the officials, 5444 are presiding officers, 35,331 assistant presiding officers and 70,662 are polling officials.
The 81 upazilas are: Roumari, Sadar and Chilmari upazilas in Kurigram district, Aditmari in Lalmonirhat, Haripur in Thakurgaon, Nilphamari Sadar, Sadullapur and Sadar in Gaibandha, Bholahat, Shibganj and Sadar in Chapainawabganj, Nawabganj and Sadar in Dinajpur, Akkelpur in Joypurhat, Godagari, Charghat and Durgapur in Rajshahi, Manda, Dhamurhat and Porsha in Noagaon, Damurhuda in Chuadanga, Monirampur in Jessore, Paikgachha in Khulna, Morelganj, Sadar, Mongla, Rampal and Sharankhula in Bagerhat, Kaliganj in Satkhira, Nesarabad in Pirojpur, Muladi, Hizla and Babuganj in Barisal, Bhola Sadar, Nariya and Sadar in Shariatpur, Tungipara in Gopalganj, Alfadanga, Madhukhali, Sadarpur, Bhanga, Sadar and Charbhadrasan in Faridpur, Lohagora in Narail, Ghioir in Manikganj, Dewanganj in Jamalpur, Fulbaria, Gouripur, Muktagachha, Fulpur and Dhobaura in Mymensingh, Mohanganj and Sadar in Netrakona, Dhanbari and Delduyar in Tangail, Shreewardi in Sherpur, Kuliarchar, Sadar and Hossainpur in Kishoreganj, Jamalganj in Sunamganj, Baralekha in Mulvibazar, Dakkhin Surma in Sylhet, Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria, Nangalkot, Homa, Burichang, Chauddagram, Brahmanpara and Titas in Comilla, Kachuya and Haziganj in Chandpur, Senbag in Noakhali, Kamalnagar in Laxmipur, Daganbhuiyan in Feni, Chandanaish and Sitakunda in Chittagong, Barkal, Kaukhali and Baghaichhuri in Rangamati, and Alikadam and Sadar in Bandarban.
On February 6, the Election Commission announced the third phase elections to 83 upazila parishads and subsequently postponed polls in Sheepur, Gazipur and Fenchuganj in Sylhet.
