The Crime Desk: Polling for the first phase of the Sixth Upazila Parishad election has started. Voting started simultaneously in 139 upazilas across the country on Wednesday (May 8) at 8 a.m. Which will run non-stop till 4 p.m..
According to the information from the Election Commission, more than 2 crore and 80 lakh people will exercise their right to vote in this phase in the upazila.
According to the schedule announced on March 21, the first phase was supposed to be held in 152 upazilas. Among them, the candidates of Hatia, Munshiganj Sadar, Bagerhat Sadar, Parashuram, and Shibchar all won without any votes. In other words, there is no need for voting in these five upazilas. The EC postponed the polls in eight upazilas due to challenges in the High Court, death, administrative, and phase changes. Finally, in the first phase, 139 upazilas are voting.
This time, the EC is in a strict position to prevent the spread of the influence of ministers and MPs in the vote. The EC canceled the candidacy of Sarishabari Upazila chairman candidate Rafiqul Islam of Jamalpur due to a violation of the code of conduct. Although the polling in that upazila was suspended yesterday afternoon, DC- SPs in areas where minister-MPs can wield influence have been instructed to be strict. There is also a decision to stop voting if there is any kind of influence.
82 thousand 733 policemen will be deployed in 139 upazilas to make the voting fair. 12 thousand 780 BGB members will serve as a striking force. The reserve will be 1830 people. 1 lakh, 59 thousand, and 874 members of Ansar are deployed as polling stations and mobile and striking forces. Besides, about two and a half thousand Rebbe members will be deployed. 17 law enforcement personnel will be deployed in general centers in normal areas and 18 or 19 law enforcement personnel in important centers to keep the polling environment calm. Besides, in special areas (hilly and remote areas), 19 members of the law enforcement force will be deployed in general centers and 20 or 21 members in important centers. Also, considering the size of the upazila, the number of voters, and the importance of the polling station, 2 to 4 platoons of BGB will perform duty in each upazila.
1665 people will compete for three posts. Among them, there are 570 candidates for the post of chairman, 625 for vice chairman, and 440 for the post of female vice chairman. However, before the voting, eight candidates for the post of chairman, 10 for the post of vice chairman, and a female vice chairman, i.e., a total of 28 candidates, won unopposed.
