Fifth phase UP polls on 5 January

Voting for the fifth phase of Union Parishad (UP) elections in 708 UPs will be held on 5 January next. 

Mohammad Humayun Kabir Khandaker, secretary to the Election Commision (EC), announced the election schedule at a press conference at the commission's office at Agargaon in the capital on Saturday.

He said the last date for submission of nomination papers is 6 December, selection of nomination papers will be held on 9 December, time for filing of appeals on 10-12 December, time for disposal of appeals on 13-14 December, withdrawal of nomination paper on 15 December, and allotment of symbols on 17 December.

In this phase of UP polls, voting will be held through the electronic voting machine (EVM) in 37 union parishads, and through ballot papers in the remaining UPs.

There are about 4,500 union parishads in the country. The EC plans to complete the voting of all UPs step by step before the end of its term. 

Earlier, the first phase of polls to 369 UPs was held on 21 June and 20 September while the second phase of polls to 833 UPs was held on 11 November.

The third phase of polls will be held in 1,000 UPs today and the fourth phase in 840 UPs on 26 December.

Electoral violence stems from factional, land disputes: Law Minister

Law Minister Advocate Anisul Haque said that a large part of the electoral violence during the ongoing Union Parishad (UP) elections was over personal and factional conflicts and land disputes.

The minister, who is in charge of the Election Commission in the Parliament, said this in the Parliament on Saturday in response to a query from Jatiya Party lawmaker Liyakot Hossain Khoka. 

Anisul Haque said electoral violence had been reported in some print and electronic media after the first and second phases of UP elections across the country. In many cases, the violence stemmed from personal and factional conflicts and or land disputes. Moreover, various individuals or groups looking for opportunities resort to violence against the religious minority or women and children during the elections. This is also one of the reasons why violence erupts during the polls.

He said, "The Election Commission has been very vigilant on electoral violence. Strict instructions have been given to the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order. The Election Commission has written a letter to the concerned government departments requesting them to remain aware of election violence and to take necessary steps to contain it. Necessary instructions have also been given to the election officials in this regard."

The minister further said that a letter has been sent to the home ministry to notify the commission about the steps taken by the police so far to maintain law and order during the election.