The Election Commission (EC) has decided to postpone the Upazila Parishad (UP) elections in Thanchi, Roma and Rowangchhari of Bandarban district.
"The elections of the three upazilas under Bandarban district have been postponed due to ongoing joint law enforcement operations in the areas," said EC secretary M Jahangir Alam.
The EC secretary told this to the journalists after an inter-ministerial meeting on the voting of sixth upazilas held at the Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon here today. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Qazi Habibul Awal chaired the meeting.
"The polls of the three upazilas have been postponed as the law-enforcement agencies are now being engaged in a joint drive in the areas. The commission will reschedule the elections for these three upazilas at any convenient time," he said.
Four other Election Commissioners, officials from different ministries including Public Security division, public administration department, police, BGB, RAB, Ansar and VDP and top officials of various agencies were present in the meeting.
Directives have been given to work all the concerned officials in a coordinated way including the administration related with the law enforcing agencies, Alam added.
UP Chairmen can participate in polls without resigning: HC
The High Court (HC) today passed an order stating that the Chairmen of the Union Parishad (UP) can participate in the UP elections without resigning from their positions.
A High Court Division Bench comprising Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif and Justice Md. Bazlur Rahman passed the order today.
The High Court has given such an order in view of the writ brought by the Chairmen of the Union Parishad for the two upazila elections of Kushtia and Sylhet.
55 UZ polls in phase 4 June 5
The fourth phase of the Sixth Upazila Parishad elections is scheduled for June 5.
A total of 55 upazilas will go to the polls on the day, as announced by the Election Commission (EC).
The decision was made during the 32nd meeting of the EC held at the Agargaon Election Bhaban in the capital on Tuesday. Election Commission Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam disclosed the details to journalists after the meeting.
According to the EC secretary, the fourth phase of polling will encompass 54 upazilas nationwide, with voting scheduled to take place continuously from 8 am to 4 pm.
Additionally, the postponed voting in Mahadevpur upazila of Naogaon district, due to the death of a candidate, will also be conducted during this phase, bringing the total number of upazilas to 55.
He stated that the deadline for the submission of nomination papers in the fourth phase is May 9, with nomination verification set for May 12. Appeals against the Returning Officer’s decisions can be made from May 13 to 15, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 19. Symbol allotment will take place on May 20.
The EC secretary has also said that Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will be used to conduct voting in the fourth phase in 9 upazilas, while the remaining upazilas will vote through the ballot paper system.
In the meantime, the EC has announced the schedule for the first, second and third phase of the upazila elections. According to the schedule, voting will be held in 150 upazilas in the first phase on May 8. The polling of 160 upazilas in the second phase is on May 21. Besides, polling in 112 upazilas of the third phase will be held on May 29.