The fifth and final phase of 74 upazila elections under 35 districts will be held today (Monday) amid fears of widespread violence.
The Election Commission (EC) has taken all preparation to hold the polls violence-free.
The voting will take place from 8:00am to 4:00pm without any break.
Like the previous four phases of upazila elections, this time rebels in both Awami League and BNP stayed in the race defying the parties high commands’ directives.
According to sources, BNP supported candidates are facing more rebels than the ruling Awami League in the elections. AL is facing 47 rebels in 30 upazilas while BNP facing 55 in 38 upazilas.
It is to be noted that in the fourth phase of elections both the parties had equal number of rebels.
The last four phases of the upazila elections were marked by extensive irregularities and violence leaving at least ten people dead. And in the last phase, it is alleged that the candidates and their activists belonging to the anti-government camp have been kept on the run by the law enforcers on different pleas as well as by the ruling party cadres.
A total of 1063 candidates are contesting the elections against 222 posts in the 74 upazilas. Of them, 364 are chairman candidates, 420 vice chairman contenders and 279 women vice chairman candidates, according to the EC secretariat.
There are 14,260,663 voters — 7,115,380 men and 7,145,283 women — who are supposed to exercise their franchise in 35,941 booths of 5,703 polling stations in the upazilas. One platoon of the army was deployed on Saturday in each upazila to work as a striking force to maintain an election-friendly environment in the areas till Wednesday.
Alongside regular law enforcement agencies, BGB members are also working as striking force in the election areas.
Besides, a team of 15-16 security men will guard each polling station. As many as 296 magistrates — 222 executive and 74 judicial ones — have been appointed to lead mobile courts in the election areas with a view to curbing any possible election violence and violation of polls codes.
Some 113,500 election officials will be on election duty during the voting. Of them, 5,703 are presiding officers, 35,941 assistant presiding officers and 71,882 polling officials.
The 74 upazilas are Thakurgaon Sadar, Biral, Parbatipur and Hakimpur of Dinajpur, Domar of Nilphamari, Kaliganj of Lalmonirhat, Fulchhari, Sundarganj of Gaibandha, Bogra Sadar, Poba of Rajshahi, Belkuchi and Shahjadpur of Sirajganj, Bera and Sadar of Pabna, Alamdanga and Sadar of Chuadanga, Debhata, Sadar and Tala of Satkhira, Bamna, Patharghata, Sadar and Amtali of Barguna, Dashmina and Kalapara of Patuakhali, Ghatail, Sadar, Mirzapur and Gopalpur of Tangail, Madarganj of Jamalpur, Gafargaon, Trishal and Nandail of Mymensingh, Ashtagram and Pakundia of Kishoreganj, Tongibari, Sirajdikhan and Louhajong of Munshiganj, Sreepur and Kaliganj of Gazipur, Manohardi, Sadar and Raipura of Narsingdi, Sonargaon, Rupganj and Araihazar of Narayanganj, Goalanda of Rajbari, Biswambhapur and Tahirpur of Sunamganj, Biyanibazar of Sylhet, Juri and Rajnagar of Moulvibazar, Baniachong of Habiganj, Kasba, Ashuganj and Sadar of Brahmanbaria, Muradnagar and Chandina of Comilla, Chhagalnaiya of Feni, Subarnachar and Hatia of Noakhali, Ramgati, Ramganj, Raypur and Sadar of Laxmipur, Sandeep of Chittagong, Teknaf, Ukhia and Sadar of Cox’s Bazar, Dighinala of Khagrachhari, and Langgadu, Rajasthali and Bilaichhari of Rangamati.
On February 20, the Election Commission announced schedule for the fifth phase elections to 74 upazila parishads and subsequently declared polls schedule for Shripur of Gazipur fixing the balloting date on the same day, but postponed polls of Basail of Tangail due to Tangail-8 by-elections held on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the commission has so far held elections to 384 upazilas — 98 upazilas in the 1st phase, 114 upazilas in the 2nd phase, 81 in the 3rd phase and 91 in 4th phase.
