The second phase of election to 835 Union Parishads is set to be held across the country on Thursday amid fear of violence. A total of 81 chairman candidates have already been elected unopposed, finding no rivals against them, while all contestants – for chairman and member posts, and reserved seats – in five UPs got elected uncontested. Read: Another member candidate shot in Cox's Bazar ahead of UP polls Though the Election Commission earlier announced the schedule for 848 UPs in the second phase election, it postponed polls in seven UPs and cancelled the election in one UP. Since all contenders in five other UPs have already been elected unopposed, the balloting will be held in 835 UPs on Thursday, according to the EC’s factsheet. More than 41,000 candidates including 3310 chairman contenders are contesting in the countrywide second phase UP election. Some 28,747 candidates are contesting for the member posts, while 9,161 women contestants for the reserved seats in the UPs. But 203 member candidates and 73 women candidates for reserved seats were elected unopposed in this phase. There are nearly 16.6 million voters – 8,405,831 men, 8,189,379 women and 16 transgender (Hijra) – under 8,492 polling stations in the UPs. About the recent election violence, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday said it is not possible to prevent such incidents by only deploying police in every locality. “Such incidents can’t be resisted by deploying guards. It is reality…. Such untoward incidents can’t be prevented with just police guards in every house and locality,” he told reporters after a meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Read: 2 hacked dead, 10 hurt in Meherpur pre-polls violence He said tolerance among all people concerned with the election is the only way to check such incidents. Huda said it would not be just to put the blame of violence on anyone unilaterally. “Rather, tolerance is essential to stop election violence. Here cooperation from political parties, candidates and supporters are required,” said the CEC.

The 4th phase elections to 840 Union Parishads in different districts will be held on December 23, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission. Besides, the elections to three municipalities – Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, Raipura in Narsingdi and Atghoria in Pabna—will also be held on the same date. As per the election schedules, the deadline for submission of the nomination papers is November 25while the scrutiny date of nomination papers is November 29 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 06, said a press release of EC on Wednesday. READ: 204 UP elections:  148 AL chairman candidates win The balloting will be held through the electronic voting machines (EVM) in 33 UPs and all the three municipalities. The 840 UPs include 11 Ups in Panchagarh district, 20 in Thakurgaon, 21 in Dinajpur, 12 each in Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat, 19 in Rangpur, 20 in Kurigram, 18 in Gaibandha, nine in Joypurhat, 13 in Bogura, eight in Chapainawabganj, 26 in Naogaon, 15 in Rajshahi,   12 in Natore, 21 in Sirajganj, 19 in Pabna, 20 in Kushtia, four in Chuadanga, 15 in Jhenaidah, eight each in Jashore and Magura, 12 in Narail, one in Khulna, 10 in Satkhira, seven in Patuakhali, eight in Bhola, four in Barishal, 14 in Jamalpur, nine in Sherpur, 20 in Mymensingh, 11 in Netrakona, 21 in Tangail, 22 in Kishoreganj. READ: UP elections: Voting underway in 160 union parishads, 9 municipalities The rest UPs are 16 in Manikganj, 23 in Munshiganj, two in Gazipur, 11 in Narsingdi, 12 in Narayanganj, 14 in Rajbari, 13 in Faridpur, 15 in Gopalganj, nine in Madaripur, 19 in Shariatpur, 21 each in Sunamganj and Sylhet, 20 in Moulvibazar and Habiganj, 15 in Brahmanbaria, 26 in Cumilla, 23 in Chandpur, 15 in Feni, 16 in Noakhali, 15 in Laxmipur, 27 in Chattogram, nine in Cox’s Bazar, eight in Khagrachhari, 10 each in Rangamati and Bandarban districts.

The second phase of elections to 848 Union Parishads (UPs) will be held on November 11, while the seventh phase polls to 10 municipalities and Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-polls on November 02. The election dates were finalised at a meeting of the Election Commission (EC), held with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair. EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the polls schedules for 848 UPs, 10 municipalities and Sirajganj-6 constituency after the meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban. According to the schedule announced for UPs, the deadline for nomination submission is October 17, while the date for scrutiny of nomination papers is October 20 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is October 26. The 848 UPs are located in the country’s 63 out of 64 districts. Read: Cumilla-7 by-polls: Pran Gopal elected unopposed Polls to 10 municipalities: the 7th phase polls to 10 municipalities in 10 different districts will be arranged on November 02.

Elections or by-elections to nearly 100 local bodies –- Zila Parishads, Upazila parishads, municipalities and Union Parishads—will be held in different districts of the country on Thursday. 

BNP has formulated guidelines for nominating its candidates for the upcoming elections to upazila parishads, municipalities and union parishads.