3rd phase polls to 1,700 UPs, 10 municipalities on Nov 28

The third phase elections to 1,700 Union Parishads (UPs) and 10 municipalities across the country will be held on November 28.

Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the election schedule on Thursday at a press briefing at the Media Center of the Nirbachon Bhaban in capital Dhaka's Agargaon. 

Earlier, a meeting of the EC regarding the third phase elections to the local bodies was held at the Nirbachon Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair. 

Humayun Kabir said, under the 3rd phase polls, elections to 31 UPs and all the 10 municipalities will be held using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

According to the election schedule for both UPs and municipalities, the last date for submitting nomination papers is November 2, the nomination papers will be scrutinized on November 4 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 11.

Responding to a question from reporters, the EC secretary said the voting date has been fixed considering the final exam routines of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC). So, the voting date may not cause any problem to the polls, he added.

EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath, NID Wing Director General AKM Humayun Kabir, Joint Secretary Farhad Ahmmed Khan and Director (joint secretary) SM Asaduzzaman were present at press briefing, among others. 

Earlier, elections to 369 UPs were held under the first phase while polling to 848 UPs are scheduled to be held on November 11 under the second phase. 

Source: BSS