Online desk : Elections to 63 municipalities in the country will take place on Saturday (Jan 30) under the third phase.
Voting will start at 8:00am and continue till 4:00pm without any break at these municipalities.
The Election Commission (EC) has completed all the necessary preparations, said Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Md. Alamgir.
He said necessary instructions have been given to law enforcing agencies to check any kind of irregularities during the voting.
EC’s additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said ballot papers would be sent to the polling centres of the respective municipalities on the voting day.
Under the third phase, voting will be held at all the municipalities through ballot papers.
Under the third phase, a total of 37 people’s representatives have been elected without contest. Of them, three are mayors, 9 reserved councilors, and 25 general councilors.
Three mayors have already been elected uncontested in three municipalities. These are Laksham in Cumilla, Morelganj in Bagerhat and Tungipara in Gopalganj.
Four tiers of security measures have been taken in all the municipalities on the election day. Members of BGB, RAB, police and Ansar will remain deployed on the ground to maintain law and order during voting, the EC officials said.
Besides, 63 judicial magistrates have been appointed in 63 municipalities for five days. They have been asked to discharge their duties two days before the election, election-day and two days after the election.
Plying of motorcycles in the municipalities has remained stopped from Thursday (Jan 28). Movement of motorcycles will remain suspended till 6:00am on Sunday (Jan 31).
Besides, plying of trucks and pick-ups in those municipalities will remain suspended from 12:00 midnight on Friday (Jan 29) till 12:00 midnight on Saturday (Jan 30). Movement of all kinds of motor launches, engine-driven riverine transports and speed boats will remain suspended during the period in those municipalities.
However, engine-driven small riverine transports will be able to ply facilitating the movement of voters.
The municipalities where elections are going to be held on Saturday are: Gobindaganj in Gaibandha, Dhamairhat and Sadar in Naogaon, Golapganj and Jakiganj in Sylhet, Dhunat, Shibganj, Gabtali, Nandigram and Kahalu in Bogura, Mundumala and Keshabhat in Rajshahi, Moulvibazar Sadar, Kotchandpur in Jhenaidah, Morelganj in Bagherhat, Barura and Chouddagram in Cumilla, Hajiganj in Chandpur, Feni Sadar, Munshiganj Sadar, Nakla in Sherpur, Singra in Natore, Dasharna in Chuadanga, Nalchiti in Jhalakathi, Durgapur in Netrokona, Monirampur in Jashore, Hatia and Chaomuhani in Noakhali, Ramganj in Laxmipur, Katiadi in Kishoreganj, Tungipara in Gopalganj, Naria, Jajira and Bhederganj in Shariatpur, Barguna Sadar and Patharghata in Barguna, Borhanuddin and Daulatkhan in Bhola, Nalitabari and Nokla in Sherpur, Ulipur in Kurigram, Hakimpur in Dinajpur, Rahanpur in Chapainawabganj, Narail Sadar, Kalaroa in Satkhira, Pangsha in Rajbari, Swarupkathi in Pirojpur, Gournadi and Mehendiganj in Barishal, Sarishabari in Jamalpur, Gauripur, Ishwarganj, Bhaluka and Trishal in Mymensingh, Harinakundu in Jhenaidah, Tangail Sadar, Bhuapur, Sakhipur, Madhupur and Mirzapur in Tangail, Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, Pabna Sadar, Paikgachha in Khulna, Kalia in Narail, Chouddagram in Cumilla.
Election in Sujanagar municipality was postponed on Thursday.
Among 329 municipalities of the country, voting was held at 24 municipalities through electronic voting machines (EVMs) under the first phase on December 28 last. Under the second phase, voting was held at 60 municipalities on January 16. Under the fourth phase, voting will be held at 56 municipalities on February 14 and under the fifth phase, voting will be held at 31 municipalities on February 28.
