The Election Commission has suspended the election of Eochia Union Parishad in Satkania upazila in Chattogram. Also read: EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg In a press release on Sunday the commission said a decision has been made to suspend the announcement of the election schedule of Eochia UP slated for June 15 until further notice. The commission asked to issue public notice and take systematic actions according to the decision to the concerned authorities.

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.  

At least 10 people were injured on Sunday including a police personnel during a clash between supporters of two chairman candidates in the upcoming Ghatmajhi Union Parishad election in Madaripur. The incident occurred around evening when supporters of candidate advocate Babul Akter and Khalil Darji locked in an hour-long clash in dispute over electioneering. Also read: Clash at BNP rally in Chattogram, stage collapses The injured were admitted at Madaripur Sadar Hospital, said Kamrul Islam Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Madaripur sadar police station. A police constable named Avijit was injured as police on information went to take control of the situation, said the OC. The election in the Ghatmajhi Union parishad is set to be held on January 31.  Also read: Pre-polls violence: 1 killed, 10 injured in Pabna clash  

The Election Commission (EC) has postponed the election for the post of Chairman at Bharara Union Parishad (UP) of Pabna Sadar Upazila following the death of a chairman candidate in a clash. Pabna District Senior Election Officer Mahbubur Rahman said that if a candidate is killed in pre-polls violence, there is a provision to postpone the polls for that post as per the rules of the EC. Police said a clash ensued between the supporters of independent chairman candidate Sultan Mahmud Khan and Awami League candidate Abu Sayed Khan over pasting posters at Bhatara village on Saturday. READ: 7 arrested for attacking presiding officer in Cumilla UP election  During the clash the rival groups exchanged gunfire, leaving Yasin and 12 others injured, said Masud Alam, additional superintendent of Pabna police.  Yasin succumbed to his injuries on the way to Rajshahi Medical College, he said.  Nine of the injured were admitted to Pabna General Hospital and six of them later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.   READ: Aushkandi UP election finally held: AL’s Delwar Hossain elected as chairman

Police have arrested seven people in connection with beating and knifing a presiding officer and a policeman during the union council election in Cumilla's Barura.The arrestees have been named as Saiful, Shaheen, Qadir, Rahman, Saddam, Khair and Ahsan.They were sent to jail after being produced to the court on Thursday, police sources said.It is learned that the supporters of two member candidates tried to occupy the polling centre at Dhewatali Government Primary School in Jhalom union of Baruda upazila on 28 November.During this time, they vandalize the furniture and snatch the ballot papers. READ: Armed man outside UN arrested after standoff, lockdown They attacked and injured Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, presiding officer in charge of the centre and Abu Hanif, sub-inspector of police. As the situation got worse the polling in the centre was suspended.Assistant presiding officer and Maheshpur Azizia High School assistant teacher Md. Ahidul Islam filed a case in Barura Police Station mentioning the names of 11 persons and 25 unnamed persons. READ: 54 arrested in DMP’s anti-narcotics drives Barura Thana Officer-in-Charge Iqbal Bahar Majumder said that so far Barura Thana police have arrested seven people. Efforts are being made to arrest the rest.The culprits will be brought under the law, he said.

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said the violence during the ongoing Union Parishad (UP) elections happened largely because of personal and factional conflicts, and land-related disputes.Anisul, also in-charge of the parliamentary affairs of the Election Commission, said this in response to a tabled question from Jatiya Party's MP Liakot Hossain Khoka elected from Narayanganj-3.He said several print and electronic media ran reports on election-related violence after the first and second rounds of UP elections across the country. Also read: 2nd phase of UP polls marred by violence; 6 dead “These are the main reasons -- personal and group conflicts, land disputes -- why violence happened during elections. Various opportunists or groups are trying to resort to violence against minority groups, women and children,” he said.The minister said the Election Commission is alert and vigilant about the election-related violence. “Strict instructions have been given to law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order. The Election Commission has written a letter to the government department concerned requesting it to take necessary steps to remain vigilant about the violence,” said the law minister. Also read: UP polls creating panic instead of festivity: GM Quader He said necessary instructions have also been given to election officials in this regard.Besides, Anisul Huq said, a letter has been sent to the Home Ministry to inform the commission about the steps taken by the police so far.

The fifth phase elections to 707 Union Parishads (UPs) in different districts will be held on January 5 as per the schedule announced by  the Election Commission. The Election Commission announced the election schedule for 707 UPs in 47 districts of the country, said Director (Public Relations) at the EC Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman on Saturday. According to the polls schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is December 07, while the date for scrutinizing the nomination papers is December 09 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 15. Also read: Will follow next polls very closely amid Bangladesh’s growing importance globally: EU In the 5th phase election, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in 37 UPs and the traditional ballot papers in the remaining UPs. The 707 UPs include 8 in Panchagarh district, 19 in Dinajpur, 11 in Nilphamari, 7 in Lalmonirhat, 7 in Kurigram, 16 in Gaibandha, 5 in Joypurhat, 22 in Bogura, 14 in Chapainawabganj, 23 in Naogaon, 19 in Rajshahi, 11 in Natore, 16 in Sirajganj, 15 in Pabna, 11 in Kushtia, 20 in Jhenaidah, 23 in Jashore, 16 in Satkhira, 12 in Bhola, 5 in Pirojpur, 11 in Jamalpur, 8 in Sherpur, 26 in Mymensigh, 21 in Netrakona, 13 in Tangail, 15 in Kishoreganj, 21 in Manikganj, 7 in Munshiganj, 11 in Dhaka, 8 in Gazipur, 15 in Narsingdi, 10 in Rajbari, 15 in Faridpur, 15 in Gopalganj, 2 in Madaripur, 17 in Shariatpur, 17 in Sunamganj, 18 in Sylhet, 18 in Moulvibazar, 21 in Habiganj, 19 in Brahmanbaria, 25 in Cumilla, 27 in Chandpur, 12 in Feni, 20 in Noakhali, 25 in Chattogram, 5 in Khagrachhari and 3 in Bandarban. Also read: 2nd phase of UP polls marred by violence; 6 dead

Supporters of two rival UP election candidates clashed in Kushtia’s Bhagjot Bazar of Ramkrishnapur union, leaving at least six people injured, witnesses said on Wednesday. Clashes broke out between Awami League and JSD workers over hanging posters of behalf of their rival candidates in Daulatpur union parishad elections on Tuesday night. READ: Court sends Kushtia municipality's executive engineer to jail in money laundering case One of the injured was admitted in hospital with bullet wounds, according to the witnesses.   Though both the parties claimed that they had lodged separate complaints with the police, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Daulatpur police station Nasir Uddin said he was not aware about the incident and no one filed any complaint. READ: College teacher on poll duty dies in Kushtia Witnesses said tensions grew between supporters of Awami League’s boat symbol candidate Siraj Mandal and the supporters of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s (JSD) torch symbol candidate Abdul Aziz over the election poster. Both blamed each other for the violence.

A man was killed in a clash between the supporters of two member candidates during voting at Hajirganj Union Parishad in Charfashion upazila of Bhola district on Monday. The victim was identified as Munir Majhi, 25, son of Bashir Shikder of the village. Read:By-election to Laxmipur-2, polls to 204 UPs, 2 municipalities underway Mohammad Kaisar, superintendent of Bhola Police, said the clash broke out between the supporters of two member candidates -- Yasin Majhi and Ruhul Amin—in Charfakira area around 11 am. There was a chase and counter chase during the clash. At one stage, they exchanged gunshots, leaving Monir Majhi injured. He was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead, said the SP. Police fired shots in the air to bring the situation under control. Besides, 10 people were injured in sporadic clashes at different polling stations. Read:Assassination of UP candidate: Election candidates, local leaders in list of accused “Voting at 12 Union Parishads (UPs) is underway almost peacefully,” said district election officer Alauddin Al Mamun. The voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm at 141 centres. Huge voters thronged the polling centers braving rains to cast their votes. People at different centres were seen casting votes ignoring Covid safety protocols. Read: By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League Twenty-five chairman candidates, 401 member contenders, 112 female candidates (reserved seats) are contesting the election. BGB, Ansar and Coast Guard personnel alongside police are performing election duties to maintain the law and order.