Elections in 57 out of 64 Zila Parishads across the country are going to be held today (Monday), October 17.
Voting in this non-partisan election is being held through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has completed all the preparations for the elections.
As per the laws, only the elected representatives of the local government institutions in the district level can vote in this election. Although, except three hill districts, the elections were scheduled to be held in 61 districts of the country, all the representatives in two districts-- Bhola and Feni--have been elected unopposed on all posts. So there is no need for polling there.
Besides, the elections of two other districts--Noakhali and Chapainawabganj, have been postponed by the order of the court.
According to information of the EC, a total of 27 chairmen have already been elected unopposed in the Zilla Parishad elections. Besides, 69 candidates for general membership and 19 candidates for reserved membership have also been elected unopposed.
As per the EC official information, a total of 90 candidates are contesting for the post of chairman in 34 district councils while 1,505 other candidates are contesting for 620 other posts, including for the reserved posts.
In total, 2,125 people are contesting for all the three types of posts.
EC Member M Alamgir said that the Election Commission is on a high alert to keep the election environment fair and free from any kind of influences. Specially, after the incidents of Gaibandha-5 by-election, the EC is looking at this election very seriously.
The Election Commissioner said that they have already been warned so that no local MP, minister or influential person can play a role in any district.
He said that election officials have been asked to carry out their duties impartially. The presiding officers and law enforcement officials have also been given instructions to ensure the privacy of polling booths and to prevent voters from entering the polling booths with mobile phones.
EC official sources said that a total of 94 Judicial Magistrates have been appointed for the Zilla Parishad elections. They will be on duty for a total of four days--two days before the polling, the day of polling and the day after polling.
The total number of voters in the district council election is 63,159. Of them, 14,923 are women and 48, 236 men. This voter list has been prepared based on the information of elected public representatives of 4 institutions of local government (City Corporations, Municipalities, Upazila Parishads and Union Parishads) of 61 districts of the country.
In the Zila Parishad elections, the number of general ward member posts is 463 and 172 are reserved ward member posts while there are a total of 61 chairman posts. The elections will be held at 955 polling booths in 477 polling centres.
