81 more upazilas going to polls Saturday

Eighty-one more upazila parishads in the country’s 41 districts are going to polls on Saturday in the third phase of the staggered local government elections.
The voting will open at 8am and continue till 4pm without any break.
The Election Commission already completed all the necessary preparations for the voting, Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz told UNB on Friday.
“The returning officers and law enforcers have also been asked to take all-out security measures to fend off any possible violence and curb the breaching of polls codes,” he said.
The commissioner also requested ministers, MPs and other public representatives to follow the election code of conduct and not to influence the non-partisan elections in any away.
One platoon of army members will remain deployed in each upazila and they will work as striking force to maintain an election-friendly environment in the areas till Monday.
Besides, one team of 14 security men will guard each normal polling station, while a team of 16 security men will ensure security to each vulnerable station.
As many as 324 magistrates – 243 executive and 81 judicial ones -have been appointed to lead mobile courts in the election areas with a view to curbing any possible electoral violence and violation of polls codes.
A total of 1119 candidates are contesting the elections against 243 posts in the 81 upazilas. Of them, 419 are chairman candidates, 423 vice chairman contenders and 277 vice chairman candidates for the post set aside for women.
There are 1,31,85,013 voters – 65,48,772 males and 66,17,182 females – who can exercise their franchise in 35,331 booths of 5,444 polling stations in the upazilas.
Over 1,11,000 election officials will be on election duty during the voting. Of the officials, 5,444 are presiding officers, 35,331 assistant presiding officers and 70,662 are polling officials.
The 81 upazilas are Roumari, Sadar and Chilmari upazilas in Kurigram district, Aditamari in Lalmonirhat, Haripur in Thakurgaon, Nilphamari Sadar, Sadullapur and Sadar in Gaibandha, Bholahat, Shibganj and Sadar in Chapainawabganj, Nawabganj and Sadar in Dinajpur, Akkelpur in Joypurhat, Godagari, Charghat and Durgapur in Rajshahi, Manda, Dhamurhat and Porsha in Noagaon, Damurhuda in Chuadanga, Monirampur in Jessore, Paikgachha in Khulna, Morelganj, Sadar, Mongla, Rampal and Sharankhula in Bagerhat, Kaliganj in Satkhira, Nesarabad in Pirojpur, Muladi, Hizla and Babuganj in Barisal, Bhola Sadar, Nariya and Sadar in Shariatpur, Tungipara in Gopalganj, Alfadanga, Madhukhali, Sadarpur, Bhanga, Sadar and Charbhadrasan in Faridpur, Lohagora in Narail, Ghioir in Manikganj, Dewanganj in Jamalpur, Fulbaria, Gouripur, Muktagachha, Fulpur and Dhobaura in Mymensingh, Mohanganj and Sadar in Netrakona, Dhanbari and Delduyar in Tangail, Shreewardi in Sherpur, Kuliarchar, Sadar and Hossainpur in Kishoreganj, Jamalganj in Sunamganj, Barlekha in Mulvibazar, Dakkhin Surma in Sylhet, Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria, Nangalkot, Homa, Burichang, Chauddagram, Brahmanpara and Titas in Comilla, Kachuya and Haziganj in Chandpur, Senbag in Noakhali, Kamalnagar in Laxmipur, Daganbhuiyan in Feni, Chandanaish and Sitakunda in Chittagong, Barkal, Kaukhali and Baghaichhuri in Rangamati, and Alikadam and Sadar in Bandarban.
On February 6, the Election Commission announced the third phase elections to 83 upazila parishads and subsequently postponed polls of Sheepur in Gazipur and Fenchuganj in Sylhet.
Meanwhile, the commission has held elections in 212 upazila parishads – 98 upazilas in the first phase and 114 in the second phase — last month.
The EC also declared polls schedules for more 166 upazila parishads fixing the fourth phase voting in 92 upazilas on March 23 and the fifth phase voting of 74 on March 31.