Staff Reporter :
The fourth phase of elections in 91 upazilas of 42 districts will be held across the country tomorrow (Sunday) under tight security. The electioneering campaign ended midnight Friday.
According to Election Commission (EC) sources, some 1,277 candidates are taking part in this phase of the upazila polls. The voting will start from 8:00am and continue till 4:00pm at a stretch.
There are around 5,884 polling centers having a Presiding Officer each where some 13,859,278 voters are likely to cast their votes.
Though it is a non-party basis local-body polls, the two arch rival political
parties — Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — are considering it as a crucial acid test for them. Both parties like the previous upazila polls desperately tried to ensure single candidate in each and every upazila, but they have failed to do so in many cases.
Both the parties are running into trouble with rebel candidates as they had a bitter experience of debacle in many upazilas in the last three rounds of voting. Outbreaks of violence are also being feared in the elections as both the parties have rebel candidates in some upazilas. Intra-party clashes are also likely on the day.
Ruling party AL has about 40 rebel candidates for chairman posts in some 40 upazilas while BNP has over 50 in some 40 upazilas, according to sources. Violence and violation of the electoral code have already been marked ahead of today’s polls.
It is now a big challenge for the Election Commission (EC) and the government to make the fourth phase of upazila polls fair, participatory, peaceful and neutral.
Meanwhile, the EC has taken all necessary preparations for holding the polls a free and fair manner. Apart from RAB, BGB, Police and Ansar, army personnel will be available in the electoral areas for five days for election duty from Friday morning to avert any untoward situation and polls violence.
Sources at the EC Secretariat said one platoon of army members was deployed in each upazila on Friday and they will work as a striking force to maintain an election-friendly environment in the areas till Tuesday.
The commission also declared a public holiday for the day in the polling areas. EC hopes to have a huge turnout of the voters to exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner.
Some 124,000 officials will be on election duty during the voting. Of them, 5,884 are presiding officers, 39,516 assistant presiding officers and 79,032 polling officers.
EC will strictly take actions against the anarchists and penalize them to maintain the election peacefully, Acting Secretary of EC M Sirajul Islam told media.
The 91 upazilas are Pirganj in Thakurgaon, Bochaganj and Phulbari in Dinajpur, Panchbibi in Joypurhat, Gabtoli in Bogra, Tanore, Bagmara and Puthia in Rajshahi, Baraigram in Natore, Chowhali in Sirajganj, Ishwardi and Faridpur in Pabna, Narail Sadar, Daulatpur in Kushtia, Jibannagar in Chuadanga, Harinakunda in Jhenidah, Jessore sadar and Keshabpur in Jessore, Chitalmari and Mollahat in Bagerhat, Terokhada, Rupsha, Batiaghata, Dacope and Fultala in Khulna, Kalaroa in Satkhira, Betagi in Barguna, Patuakhali Sadar, Dumki, Bauphal, Galachipa and Mirzaganj in Patuakhali, Tazumuddin, Daulatkhan and Manpura in Bhola, Agailjhara, Ujirpur and Banaripara in Barisal, Jhalakati sadar, Kathalia, Rajapur and Nalchity in Jhalakati, Bhandaria, Pirojpur sadar, Mathbaria and Zianagar in Pirojpur, Kalihati, Madhupur, Nagarpur and Bhuapur in Tangail.
The upazilas also include: Sherpur sadar and Nalitabari in Sherpur, Haluaghat in Mymensingh, Madan in Netrakona, Bhairab, Itna, Katiadi, Mithamoin and Tarail in Kishoreganj, Gazaria in Munshiganj, Kaliakair in Gazipur, Shalla, Jagannathpur and Dharmapasha in Sunamganj, Sylhet sadar and Kanaighat in Sylhet, Sreemongal, Sadar and Kamalganj in Moulvibazar, Habiganj Sadar, Nabiganj, Azmiriganj and Lakhai in Habiganj, Akhaura and Nasirnagar in Brahmanbaria, Meghna and Barua in Comilla, Sharwasti in Chandpur, Sonagazi and Fulgazi in Feni, Begumganj in Noakhali, Banshkhali, Rauzan, Fatikchhari, Rangunia, Boalkhali, Satkania and Anwara in Chittagong, Ramu and Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar, Zurachhari in Rangamati, and Naikhanchhari in Bandarban.
It is to be noted that the first phase polls were held in 97 upazilas on February 19, the second phase in 117 upazilas on February 27 and the third phase in 83 upazilas on March 15.
