BANGLADESH

Second phase UP elections to 835 union parishads begins

The second phase of election to 835 union parishads is underway on Thursday.

Voting began at 8am and continue until 4pm without any break.

A total of 3,310 candidates are vying for the chairman posts in the second phase of the UP elections.

Around 9,161 candidates are seeking reserved councillor posts for women, while 28,747 people are seeking to become members.

Voting is being held at 20 union councils using electronic voting machines, while the rest are using paper ballots.

Sources concerned fear massive violence on voting day as pre-poll clashes between supporters of the candidates have already led to multiple casualties and injuries.

The polls atmosphere has become volatile as Awami League infighting has ruined festivities in the campaigns in the run-up to the second phase of the UP polls, they say.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has warned of strict action to maintain law and order on voting day, expressing “discomfort” and “concern” over the recent incidents of violence in the run-up to the second phase of elections for the posts of union parishad chairmen and members.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said that it was not possible to stop the election violence by guarding each and every single neighbourhood.

He was talking to reporters at the election building in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Wednesday afternoon.

The CEC’s statement came in the wake of tensions, clashes and violence in various areas surrounding Thursday’s Union Parishad (UP) election.

The CEC also said: “Tolerance is needed to stop the electoral violence, which requires the cooperation of all political party candidates and their supporters.”

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