Voting in 708 union parishads on Wednesday

More than 700 Union Parishads (UPs) around the country are set to go to the polls on Wednesday in the fifth phase elections to the lowest tier of the local government.

The election will be held in 708 UPs on Wednesday, said Joint Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat SM Asaduzzman on Tuesday.

A total of 36,457 candidates are in the election race for the chairman and member posts of 708 UPs at 95 upazilas in 48 districts. Of them, 3,278 are chairman contenders for 708 posts, according to the EC’s factsheet.

However, 48 chairman contestants have already been declared elected unopposed, finding no rivals against their respective posts.

Besides, 33 candidates for reserve seats and 112 for member posts have been elected uncontested in different UPs.

In the 708 UPs, the total number of voters is 14.2 million under 7,137 polling stations. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in 40 UPs, while traditional ballot papers will be used in the remaining bodies in the 5th phase polls.EVMs will be used in 40 UPs, while traditional ballot papers in the remaining bodies in the fifth phase polls, said EC officials.

The Election Commission (EC) on November 27 last announced the fifth phase schedule for 707 UPs of 47 districts.

Later, another UP was incorporated in this phase.

The deadline for the submission of nomination papers was December 07, while the date for scrutinising the nomination papers was December 9 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature was December 15.

The 707 UPs include eight in Panchagarh district, 19 in Dinajpur, 11 in Nilphamari, 7 in Lalmonirhat, seven in Kurigram, 16 in Gaibandha, five in Joypurhat, 22 in Bogura, 14 in Chapainawabganj, 23 in Naogaon, 19 in Rajshahi, 11 in Natore, 16 in Sirajganj, 15 in Pabna, 11 in Kushtia, 20 in Jhenaidah, 23 in Jessore, 16 in Satkhira, 12 in Bhola, five in Pirojpur, 11 in Jamalpur, eight in Sherpur, 26 in Mymensingh, 21 in Netrakona, 13 in Tangail, 15 in Kishoreganj, 21 in Manikganj, seven in Munshiganj, 11 in Dhaka, eight in Gazipur, 15 in Narsingdi, 10 in Rajbari, 15 in Faridpur, 15 in Gopalganj, two in Madaripur, 17 in Shariatpur, 17 in Sunamganj, 18 in Sylhet, 18 in Moulvibazar, 21 in Habiganj, 19 in Brahmanbaria, 25 in Cumilla, 27 in Chandpur, 12 in Feni, 20 in Noakhali, 25 in Chittagong, 5 in Khagrachhari and 3 in Bandarban.