Staff Reporter :The third phase elections to 81 upazilas will be held today (Saturday). The voting will take place from 8.0am to 4.0pm without any break in these upazila parishads, sources at the Election Commission Secretariat said.A total of 1,119 candidates are vying against 243 posts in the 81 upazilas. Of them, 419 are for chairman posts, 423 for vice chairman posts and 277 for vice chairman post set for women.There are 1,31,85,013 voters, 65,48,772 males and 66,17,182 females. They will exercise their franchise in 35331 booths of 5444 polling stations in the upazilas.Sources said, among the contestants, the number of rebel candidates is higher in BNP than in ruling Awami League. There are single AL candidates in 43 upazilas, and multiple rebel candidates in 31 upazilas. On the other hand, BNP has single candidates in 37 upazilas, and multiple rebel candidates in 34 upazilas.Earlier, on Thursday, a total of 273 candidates withdrew their nominations.More than 1,10000 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 officers.Besides, regular law enforcement agencies, BGB members will be working as striking force in the election areas. 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 violence, sources said. 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 Naogaon, Damurhuda in Chuadanga, Monirampur in Jessore, Paikgachha in Khulna, Morrelganj, Sadar, Mongla, Rampal and Sharankhola 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 Charbhadrason in Faridpur, Lohagora in Narail, Ghior in Manikganj, Dewanganj in Jamalpur, Fulbaria, Gouripur, Muktagachha, Fulpur and Dhobaura in Mymensingh, Mohanganj and Sadar in Netrakona, Dhonbari and Delduar in Tangail, Sreebardi in Sherpur, Kuliarchar, Sadar and Hossainpur in Kishoreganj, Jamalganj in Sunamganj, Baralekha in Moulvibazar, Dakkhin Surma in Sylhet, Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria, Nangalkot, Homna, Burichang, Chauddagram, Brahmanpara and Titas in Comilla, Kachua and Haziganj in Chandpur, Senbag in Noakhali, Kamalnagar in Laxmipur, Daganbhuiyan in Feni, Chandanaish and Sitakunda in Chittagong, Barkal, Kaukhali and Baghaichhari 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 Sreepur, Gazipur and Fenchuganj in Sylhet.Meanwhile, the commission held elections to 212 upazila parishads and 98 upazilas in the first phase and 114 upazilas in the second phase last month.
