Polls to 14 UZs under new EC today

Fourteen upazila parishads in 12 districts go to polls today with much attention focused on whether the new Election Commission will be able to hold those in a free and fair manner.

Fresh elections will be held in Sylhet's Osmaninagar, Khagrachhari's Guimara and Sunamganj's Jagannathpur for all three posts of chairman and vice-chairpersons.

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The remaining 11 upazila parishads will see by-polls to fill some vacant posts, said EC officials. Four municipalities in four districts will also see by-polls for either mayor or councillor posts.

The EC has taken all out preparation to hold the polls in a free and fair manner, EC Director (public relations) SM Azaduzzaman told The Daily Star.

President Abdul Hamid on February 6 appointed KM Nurul Huda as the chief election commissioner (CEC) along with four election commissioners for five years.

Right after taking oath on February 15, the new EC got the task of holding some pending local government polls.

Experts and officials earlier reckoned that these initial polls would be a litmus test for the EC, which would like to win public confidence. It will be overseeing the 2019 national election.

Meanwhile, BNP alleged that “terrorists” of the ruling Awami League were issuing death threats against its candidates and supporters while cadres creating obstacles in campaigns.

“A dreadful environment is prevailing in the election areas,” BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed told a briefing at the party's Naya Paltan central office in the capital. He cited some attacks saying some 50 BNP men were injured.

Rizvi questioned how the CEC would ensure polls in the country failing to prevent violence in Patuakhali's Rangabali, some 25 kilometres away from the CEC's village home.

He accused local administrations and law enforcement agencies of not taking up preventive measures following lodging of complaints. 

Replying to a query, Rizvi said BNP was taking part in the election to expand multi-party democracy as it was an election-oriented party and was not against democracy.