DHAKA: The Election Commission (EC) said the voting to the Upazilla polls in certain area will be suspended as soon as any irregularity found.

“There will be no compromise with irregularities in Upazila Parishad polls in the first phase, slated for Sunday (Mar 10), the polls will be stopped immediately,” voting will be halted in that center immediately, said Mokhlesur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Election Commission. 

He was addressing a press briefing at Nirbachon Bhaban on Saturday (Mar 9), day before the first phase of the fifth upazila parishad elections. 

“Upazila elections are a local election. Candidates are very active there. They did the campaign, did the hectic electioneering. And we think the turnout of voters in the upazila elections will be very high”, Mokhlesur Rahman said in reply to a query.

Asked, he said that the Election Commission has stopped voting in the three upazilas as it felt that the voting will not be held there in free and fair manner. 

As per poll schedule, the EC announced on February 3, voting to as many as 87 upazilas will be held in the first phase on Sunday. 

Later, the court postponed voting in the three upazila and the EC also postponed in three others. And candidates in all post were elected uncontested in three upazilas. 

So, voting will be held in 78 upazila parishads on Sunday (Mar 10).

A total of 14,248,850 voters are expected to cast their ballots in 5,847 polling centers across the country.  A total of 207 candidates vie for chairman post while 386 for vice chairman post and 249 for woman vice chairman post.

Voting will begin from 8:00am and end at 4:00pm without any break. 

BDST: 2030 HRS, MAR 9, 2019
RS/SMS