Voting is underway for the seventh phase of local body elections to 138 Union Parishads (UPs) in 24 upazilas of 20 districts. The voting began at 8am Monday at 1,350 polling stations and will continue till 4pm without any break. Read: Rangamati UP polls: Bar on Sajek tourism on Feb 6,7 Out of 138 UPs, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being used in nine UPs, while the traditional ballot papers in the rest ones. There are more than 2.45 million voters with 5,874 candidates contesting the elections. A total of 5,874 candidates, including 576 chairman contenders, are in the electoral race in the 138 UPs, joint secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman said on Sunday. But 71 contestants, including 11 chairman candidates, have already been elected unopposed, finding no rival candidate against their post. On December 29 last, the EC announced the schedule for the 7th phase countrywide UP election. The deadline for submission of nomination papers expired on January 12 last. Read:UP polls-violence leaves 29 dead in Jan alone: MSF Among  the 138 Ups, 24 are in Cumilla, 19 in Rangamati, 17 in Rangpur, 16 in Chattogram, 11 in Mymensingh, nine in Kishoreganj, eight in Noakhali, seven in Sunamganj, six in Patuakhali, five in Khagrachhari, three in Bandarban, two each in Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Joypurhat and Sirajganj, one each in Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar. 

The 7th phase election to 138 Union Parishads in 24 Upazilas of 20 districts is set to be held on Monday. The balloting will begin at 8am and continue till 4pm without any break. A total of 5,874 candidates, including 576 chairman contenders, are in the electoral race in the 138 UPs, joint secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman said on Sunday. But 71 contestants, including 11 chairman candidates, have already been elected unopposed, finding no rival candidate against their post. Also read: UP elections Phase IV: AL leader, his daughter held over snatching ballots in Thakurgaon More than 2.45 million voters are there under a total of 1,350 polling stations in the 138 UPs. Of them, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in nine UPs, while the traditional ballot papers will be used in the rest ones. On December 29 last, the EC announced the schedule for the 7th phase countrywide UP election. The deadline for submission of nomination papers expired on January 12 last. Also read: UP election: Defeated member candidate dies under attack by winners in Gaibandha union The 138 UPs are 24 ones in Cumilla, 19 in Rangamati, 17 in Rangpur, 16 in Chattogram, 11 in Mymensingh, nine in Kishoreganj, eight in Noakhali, seven in Sunamganj, six in Patuakhali, five in Khagrachhari, three in Bandarban, two each in Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Joypurhat and Sirajganj, one each in Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar.  

Baghaichari upazila administration in Rangamati has restricted tourism at Sajek Valley on February 6 and 7 ahead of the seventh phase Union Parishad elections. “As  Sajek Union Parishad election is set to be held on February 7 all kinds of vehicle movement except those to be used for election purpose will remain suspended in the area and  tourist movement will also remain halted. The resort owners' association has been asked to shut the cottages and resorts in Sajek for the two days,” said Shariful Islam, Baghaichari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). READ: 2 killed in JSS-UPDF gunfight in Rangamati To avoid any kind of risk and unwanted situation centering the polls the administration has taken the decision, he said. Jerry Lusai,Generel Secretary of Sajek Cottage  Owners' Association, said they have received a notice from the administration in this regard on Friday and directed the owners under the association accordingly. READ: JSS leader shot dead in Rangamati Elections  are set to be held in some Union Parishads of the three upazilas in Rangamati district on February 7.

The voting is underway for the sixth phase of local body elections to 218 Union Parishads (UPs) in 42 upazilas of 22 districts. The voting began at 8am at 2,186 polling stations and will continue till 4pm without any break. Read: 3 journos injured while reporting on UP polls in Thakurgaon Out of 218 UPs, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being used in 216 instead of traditional ballot papers. In the 218 UPs, there are some 42 lakh voters with 11,604 candidates contesting the elections. Of them, 1,199 contenders are running for chairman posts, while 2,559 women for reserved seats and 7,846 for member posts. Read:Post-polls violence: 2 killed, 20 injured in Narsingdi Meanwhile, 12 contestants for chairman posts, 32 women for reserved seats and 100 for member posts have been elected unopposed as there were no rival candidates against their respective posts. On December 18 last, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the sixth phase UP election.

Three journalists were seriously injured by some miscreants on Saturday while collecting news on upcoming UP elections in Thakurgaon. The injured journalists are Tanvir Hossain Tanu, district correspondent of Independent television, Mainuddin Talukdar Himel, correspondent for RisingBD website, and Sohel Rana, correspondent of NewsBangla24 and Doinik Bhorer Akash. According to witnesses, ahead of the Senua Union Parishad set to be held on February 7, candidate Motiur Rahman was conducting his election campaign in Molankhur Mandalpara. Also read: Pre-poll violence: 1 killed, 12 hurt in Jamalpur At one point some supporters of his rival candidate attacked the campaigners with arms and as the journalists went to take photos, the miscreants beat them up. The journalists said their cameras, mobile phones were broken and moneybags were snatched during the attack. Locals and other journalists rescued the three journalists and admitted them to Thakurgaon General Hospital. Also read: Pre-poll violence leaves 3 injured in Ctg Rakibul Alam Chayan, Resident Medical Officer of the hospital, said the injured received primary medications and further treatments will be provided after examining their physical condition.  

Voting for the fifth phase of the union parishad (UP) polls is underway in Bangladesh, with over 36,400 candidates in the fray for different posts. Polling began in 708 UPs across 95 upazilas in 48 districts at 8am Wednesday and will continue till 4pm. A total of 36,457 candidates, including 3,278 contenders for the post of chairman, are contesting in the countrywide fifth-phase UP election. Some 48 chairman candidates have already been elected unopposed. Also, 33 member candidates for reserved seats and 112 for member posts have been elected unopposed in different UPs. There are a total of 14.2 million under 7,137 polling stations in 708 UPs. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in 40 UPs. The Election Commission on November 27 last announced the 5th phase polls schedule for 707 UPs across 48 districts. Later, another UP was incorporated in the fifth-phase election. Also read: UP-polls violence: 1 succumbs to injuries in Sirajganj, 1 arrested

The High Court on Sunday issued a contempt of court rule against 5 officials including the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission Secretary for disobeying an order. The rule was issued over publishing the gazetted election results of a union parishad at Rangunia upazila in Chattogram. HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order during hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard. The HC questioned why punitive measures will not be taken against the five officials. Also read: Launch fire: Writ seeks HC directive on compensation for victims CEC KM Nurul Huda, EC secretary Md Humayun Kabir, Chattogram District Commissioner Mominur Rahman, Rangunia upazila election officer Bayezid Alam, and Ratan Kanti Shil, presiding officer at the Chainipara Government Primary School polling center, were made respondents to the rule. Petitioner’s lawyer ABM Altaf Hossain said petitioner Ahmed Kabir, a general member candidate for Kumra Union Parishad election lost by 8 votes. On December 2, Ahmed Kabir sent an application to the CEC for a recount of the votes or reelection as there was a discrepancy between the result announced at the Chainipara school center and the number of voters. Also read: HC stays govt order on withdrawal of allowance to Birangana Majeda Getting no reply, Kabir filed a writ petition with the High Court. On December 6, the HC ordered to settle the appeal within 15 work days and suspended issuing gazette on the UP election result until then. On December 23, the gazetted election result was published by CEC without settling the petition.  

A garage mechanic was shot dead during a clash between villagers and police centering Fulbari UP election in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Abdus Salam, 50, a resident of Lakshmipasa union of the upazila. According to locals, the supporters of independent chairman candidate Emran Hossain blocked Sylhet-Zakiganj road in Boitikar Bazar over the poll results of two centers in wards 8 and 9 in Fulbari Union at 8pm. Read: A bridge in Sunamganj that symbolizes corruption A clash ensued between the villagers and police when police tried to disperse the supporters of Emran Hossain, forcing police to open fire, they said.  Abdus Salam, who suffered bullet injures during the   clash, was taken  to MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital (SOMC) where doctors declared him dead. In-charge of Osmani Medical College and Hospital police outpost  SI Jonny Chowdhury said  one was killed and five policemen were injured during the clash. Abdus Salam had bullet wounds on his body, said SI Jonny Chowdhury. The body was kept in SOMC morgue for an autopsy, he added. Additional police have been deployed in the area after the clash, the SI said.  

Three people were killed in firing reportedly by members of a law enforcement agency during a clash over elections at Khangaon union in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon district on Sunday night and early Monday. Jahangir Hossain, Superintendent of Police of Thakurgaon, said, “As officials of the local administration were confined to a polling centre, a BGB team went there to rescue them. They had to open fire at one point of time to bring the situation under control. The three might have died in BGB firing. However, we need further investigation to be sure about it.” Read: Poll violence claims another life; injured Narsingdi man dies in Dhaka Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Pirganj Police Station, said one of the three died on the spot while two others succumbed to their wounds at Sadar Hospital. Two of the injured are undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Thakurgaon Adhunik Sadar Hospital. The deceased were identified as Aditya, 18, Mojaharul Islam, 35, and Hossain, 26. Police said Nuruzzaman, an independent candidate, and his supporters confined the officials of the administration, including the presiding officer, to Ghidob Primary School when the vote count ended around 8pm. When Haripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abdul Karim reached the spot along with a BGB team, the candidate’s supporters attacked them and vandalized the vehicle. After nearly two hours, BGB men opened fire to bring the situation under control, leaving one dead on spot and four others injured, said the OC. The injured were sent to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital where two others succumbed to their injuries. With the death toll in Thakurgaon, at least eight people were killed and over 100 others injured as the 3rd phase of union parishad (UP) elections ended on Sunday afternoon amid sporadic violence and irregularities. Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Lakshmipur, Jashore and Khulna. Read: Voting begins in 3rd phase UP polls; 2 killed in pre-dawn attacks The first and second phases of UP elections were marred by violence and irregularities. At least six people were killed and over 100 others injured in the 2nd phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections on November 11. Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla and Chattogram. Three people were killed and a number of people were injured in the first phase of union parishad election that concluded with reports of sporadic violence and clashes on September 20.

Two people were killed in Jashore and Khulna districts in violence a few hours ahead of the beginning of the 3rd phase Union Parishad elections in different districts on Sunday morning. In Khulna, a 38-year-old man was beaten to death reportedly by the supporters of a rebel candidate of Awami League at Madhupur in Terokhada upazila of Khulna district on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Babul Shikdar, 38, a supporter of Awami League-backed chairman candidate Mohammad Mohsin. Quoting local people, Zahurul Alam, officer-in-charge of Terokhada Police Station, said the supporters of rebel candidate Kamal Hossain swooped on Babul Shikdar around 12:15 am on his way home. READ: 3rd phase elections: Voting underway in 1000 Union Parishads  Later, they hit Babul with a hammer and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured. Babul was taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 6:15 am. A tense situation has been prevailing in the area following the incident. “Efforts are on to arrest the attackers as they managed to flee the scene. No one has lodged any complaint in this connection,” he said. Besides, balloting in seven union parishads in Terokhada and Rupsha upazila is underway. In Jashore, a 35-year-old man was killed and a dozen others injured in a clash between the supporters of two member candidates at Kaiba union in Sharsha upaizla on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Kutub Uddin, 35, a supporter of Iktiar Rahman, a member candidate of No 1 ward of the union and son of Mohiuddin of Rudrapur village. Quoting local people, Rupon Kumar Sarkar, inspector of DB police, said the supporters of the current member Habibur Rahman, equipped with arms, attacked Kutub while he was pasting posters on behalf of Iktiar at Rudrapur around 6 pm on Saturday. A clash broke over the issue between the supporters of two candidates, leaving 13 people, including Kutub, injured Of the injured, six people were taken to Jashore General Hospital where Kutub succumbed to his injuries around 9 pm. In Cumilla, a chase and counter-chase happened among the supporters of two chairman candidates over stuffing ballots at Saifullakandi Primary School under Mathabhanga union of Homna upazila in Cumilla district. A number of crude bombs were exploded outside the polling centre. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The voting in 1,000 Union Parishads started at 8am and will continue till 4pm without any break. More than two crore people will cast their votes at 10,159 polling stations. The first and second phases of UP elections were marred by violence and irregularities. At least six people were killed and over 100 others injured in the 2nd phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections on November 11. Violence was reported from different parts of the country, including Narsingdi, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla and Chattogram. READ: Law Minister attributes violence during UP elections to personal conflicts Three people were killed and a number of people were injured in the first phase of union parishad election that concluded with reports of sporadic violence and clashes on September 20.