Hartal demanding UP election 'on schedule'
People of Fulchhari union in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district demonstrate in front of the deputy commissioner's office yesterday demanding arrangement of the union parishad election as per the existing schedule.Photo: STAR
Saghata Upazila Nagorik Committee yesterday enforced a daylong hartal at the upazila headquarters demanding election to Ghuridaha union parishad in the district as per schedule. Offices, educational institutions, shops and banks remained closed at Saghata upazila headquarters during hartal, which also hampered vehicular movement between the upazila and other parts of the country. The Election Commission postponed the election to Ghuridaha Union Parishad, scheduled to be held on June 5, following a petition filed with the commission by sitting Chairman Ataur Rahman. The chairman in his petition said as the Jamuna recently devoured a ward of the union, fresh voter list and area demarcation are needed to hold the election. The EC's decision angered local people who enforced the shutdown to press home their demand. People of Fulchhari Union Parishad yesterday formed a human chain on Gaibandha-Palashbari Road and later submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding election in the union on scheduled date. As per scheduled declared by the returning officer, voting in the union will take place on July 2. But local alleged that some sitting members of the union lodged petitions to the Election Commission, saying that six out of nine wards in the union were partially eroded by the Jamuna River and the residents became homeless. They urged the Election Commission to postpone the election to make a fresh voter list and demarcate the area of the union. Locals termed the move of the members a conspiracy and urged the authorities concerned to hold polls in the union as per schedule.
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